Amaro v. City of New York

Plaintiff, a New York City fireman, sustained

serious injuries when, in responding to an urgent fire alarm, he fell to the main apparatus floor of the firehouse through an open, unguarded sliding pole hole in a darkened second-floor dormitory room. Plaintiff charged the defendant city with negligence in failing to maintain adequate lighting and guards at the pole hole. The jury agreed and returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff in the sum of $1,600,000. An unanimous Appellate Division affirmed as to liability but directed a new *33trial as to damages alone unless plaintiff stipulated to a…