Neighbarger v. Central Ohio Transit Authority

On October 12, 1979, appellant, Mary E. Neighbarger, boarded a bus operated by an agent of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (“COTA”), an ap-pellee herein. After paying her fare, she stepped around a woman who was talking to the driver and grabbed a vertical pole located at the front of the bus for passenger assistance. As she grabbed for the pole, the bus started forward, spinning her around and causing her to fall into the lap of another passenger.

On July 24, 1981, appellant filed a complaint for money damages against COTA and “John Doe,” its driver on the occasion in question, alleging…