Niemiec v. Allegheny County Port Authority

Opinion by

Packer, J.,

The appellee disregarded a posted notice, “Bridge Closed to all Pedestrians”, just as he and many others had done almost daily for ten years. Only this time the appellee did not reach the other side. He fell thirty-five feet through the public walkway when he stepped over a hole created by a missing board onto a rotten or loose board.

The appellee sued the Port Authority, the owner of the trolley bridge, for the injuries resulting from his fall. The Port Authority then joined the City as an additional defendant, claiming that it was solely liable because it had contracted…