SEATTLE — A verdict by a King County jury has resulted in a $13.1 million award to a former ultramarathon runner who sustained severe injuries from a fall caused by an unsafe sidewalk in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood in 2021. The city of Seattle along with the owners of a nearby apartment building are being held financially responsible for the incident.
Lesley Mettler Auld, 53, who once thrived in the strenuous sport of ultramarathoning, expressed through a press statement from her legal team that the life-altering injuries have permanently sidelined her running career. She now faces immense challenges in mobility, describing her daily struggle with basic movements, including needing to use her hands and knees to ascend stairs at home.
Mettler Auld was well-known in the athletic community as a professional fitness coach who successfully completed multiple races exceeding the traditional marathon length of 26.2 miles. The accident occurred on a sidewalk infamous among local residents for its slippery conditions due to constant water and algae presence, which her lawsuit highlighted.
Testimonies in court supported her claims, with several locals recounting similar falls in the same area. The injuries Mettler Auld incurred were severe, primarily to her quadriceps, necessitating multiple surgical interventions to address the extensive damage.
The city’s response to the verdict has been minimal, with a spokesperson for the Seattle city attorney’s office declining to comment on the case.
The jury’s decision underscores the ongoing issues of pedestrian safety and infrastructure maintenance, bringing into question the responsibilities of municipal and property owners in ensuring public walkways are safe. This case not only highlights the severe personal toll incidents like these can take but also brings to light the broader implications for city policy and the potential for future legal precedents.
Legal experts point out that this verdict could potentially influence future personal injury claims related to public infrastructure, emphasizing the necessity for municipalities to prioritize the upkeep of public spaces to prevent similar accidents.
Residents of Queen Anne have expressed hopes that this verdict will catalyze the city to reevaluate and accelerate maintenance procedures to prevent further injuries to pedestrians. Public safety advocates are calling for increased scrutiny and regulations surrounding sidewalk upkeep, suggesting that this case might serve as a pivotal moment for change in the community’s approach to pedestrian safety.
As the city digests the implications of this substantial financial judgment, attention now turns to how municipal leaders and property owners will address the clearly outlined safety concerns to prevent future incidents that could lead to similar legal consequences.