FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2022
Contact: Eric W. Boyer, Esq.
Managing Partner
305.670.1101 Ext. 1023
Email: eboyer@qpwblaw.com
QPWB NEW YORK OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER RECEIVES DEFENSE VERDICT –
JURY AGREES THAT AN ACCIDENT IS NOT NEGLIGENCE
Tanya M. Branch
BROOKLYN, N.Y. ― Tanya M. Branch, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.’s Managing Partner of the New York office, received a defense verdict for a fuel oil company. Kathleen Pustarfi, a 76-year-old retired female, alleged that on March 29, 2017 at approximately 2:00 p.m., she tripped over the oil supply hose that was extended across the sidewalk during an oil delivery. Plaintiff claimed that the oil truck was in the bus stop and blocked her ability to see the hose. Additionally, the plaintiff claimed that the defendants failed to put a sign near the hose to warn pedestrians. The defendants contended that they were delivering oil at the time of the incident and that they exercised reasonable care to warn pedestrians of the hose by placing a sign near the hose and verbally warning pedestrians to “Watch Your Step.” The defendants argued that plaintiff fell because she was not paying attention and that is called an accident, not negligence. Plaintiff sustained head and facial injuries, bilateral fractures to her wrists, and a rotator cuff surgery.
On June 2, 2022, the jury in Kings County (Brooklyn) rendered a verdict finding the defendants were not negligent.
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Tanya M. Branch is the Managing Partner of the New York City office. She serves as first chair national counsel throughout multiple jurisdictions in the U.S. upon request. She represents property owners, managing agents, trucking companies, contractors, subcontractors and municipalities in claims involving personal injury, property damage and construction accidents. Her practice focuses on complex general liability and the representation of insurers and insureds in commercial general liability claims and all other aspects of personal injury litigation. She received her law degree from Touro College Fuchsberg Law Center in 1994 and is admitted to practice in New York and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., is the largest minority and women owned law firm in the nation with approximately 400 lawyers serving clients from 31 offices in the United States and abroad across a spectrum of industries in over 40 areas of practice. Our lawyers provide representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law.