Neglected Wooden Staircase Leads to Severe Injury

Case Overview

This case centers around an individual who sustained significant injuries after falling through a staircase landing while moving furniture out of their apartment. During the course of relocating items down a wooden exterior staircase, they stepped onto a landing where one of the boards had rotted. As a result, their leg became lodged in the staircase, and they remained trapped until first responders arrived to assist. Subsequent investigations revealed that the staircase had not been properly treated or maintained, and during winter months, it had been treated with an ice solvent containing sodium chloride. This raises serious concerns about the safety protocols and maintenance practices related to exterior wooden staircases.

Questions to the Property Management expert and their responses

Please describe your professional background in property management and maintenance, specifically as it pertains to buildings with wooden exterior staircases, if applicable.

I have worked for the past 20 years in the property management sector. The first six years were in a management role and the past 14+ years were in an executive role. Training, setting up protocols, and management oversight for our portfolio of properties is a major part of my role. Many of the properties we manage have exterior wooden steps. From a property management perspective, oversight of snow/ice removal in the winter and general maintenance of the building infrastructure (including steps) is a large part of our role and responsibilities. We are tasked with evaluating the conditions of our properties and performing risk management assessments. We help identify safety hazards, correct those hazards, and take proactive measures to prevent safety hazards from developing.

Briefly, what industry standards exist regarding the treatment and maintenance standards for wooden staircases, particularly in winter months.

Specific to exterior wood steps, they should be constructed of pressure-treated or comparable materials, inspected regularly for issues, and sealed properly on a schedule. Snow removal specifications should require that an ice melt product that is safe for use on wood materials be used.

About the expert

This expert has over 20 years of experience in the field of property management. He earned his BS in business management from La Salle University and is a licensed real estate agent in the state of New York. He is also a certified property manager, professional community manager, and community association manager. This expert remains active in his field as a member of the Association of Management Specialists and the Institute of Real Estate Management. He formerly served as an assistant property manager at Delking Properties and as a property manager at Katonah Management Group. He later served as a senior association manager at River Management. Currently, he serves as the director of operations at a property management firm based in Connecticut.

E-400330

Specialties:

Property Management

Celia Guo is the Vice President of Multidisciplinary Research at Expert Institute. With a background rooted in public policy and criminal justice, Celia brings a wealth of experience in data-driven legal analysis. Prior to joining The Expert Institute, she conducted research for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on drug diversion cases, and collaborated with the American Civil Liberties Union to analyze officer-involved shootings in Fresno, California. Her policy advocacy work also includes lobbying with the Drug Policy Alliance for the RISE Act, aimed at reforming sentencing enhancements for minor drug offenses.

Celia holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University and an M.P.P. from the University of Southern California. She combines her policy expertise with a passion for justice to lead a dynamic research team that supports litigation strategy across a wide range of practice areas.