A Cochise County woman has sued the City of Sierra Vista for negligence after she was reportedly injured last summer while walking her dog at a city park.
Mary Brown’s lawsuit filed on June 2 seeks monetary damages for medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, and other claims stemming from an incident at the Nancy Hakes Park. The park is located on Calle Parkway near Village Meadows Elementary School.
According to the lawsuit, Brown was walking with a friend and their dogs around 7:30 p.m. on June 8, 2019 when they crossed a pathway bridge to access the park. Brown alleges the bridge was in disrepair and had an uneven surface, causing her to trip and fall.
“(City of Sierra Vista) was in the position to ensure that safety procedures for the protection of public invitees of the Park were initiated and followed,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant has a non-delegable duty to exercise reasonable case for the safety of public invitees of the Park.”
Within weeks of the 2019 incident Brown submitted a hand-written notice of claim to the city in which she reported falling “extremely hard” after tripping on uneven boards on the bridge. The fall caused unspecified injuries to her legs, knees, ankles, and back.
“There were no signs or warnings of ‘uneven pathway,’” Brown wrote, adding that the area appeared “camouflaged.”
The city will have 30 days to file an answer once the lawsuit it formally served.
Brown is represented in the negligence case by Gage Mathers, a personal injury law firm in Phoenix. A jury trial has been requested.