MSL Management & Development Corp. a property management company owned by Meir Lichtenstein, who also serves on the Lakewood Township Committee and the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority, rushed to settle a lawsuit - just as the trial began, FAA News has learned.
Thomas Crooks, residing at 116-B Martin Luther King Drive, sued MSL for personal injuries which resulted due to their negligence in the maintenance of the property.
According to his complaint filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Ocean County by West Atlantic City Attorney Dara A. Quattrone Esq.:
On July 15, 2020 in the early morning, Crooks was sleeping in his apartment bedroom when the ceiling collapsed onto him, causing large pieces of plaster and sheet rock to fall onto his head and back prompting him to jump out of bed, and caused him severe and permanent injuries.
Lakewood Plaza Housing, LLC is the entity that owns/manages and/or maintains the apartment complex. Crooks is a tenant of this entity. MSL Management are the property managers for Lakewood Plaza Housing, LLC.
Energy Analysis Group, LLC was hired by Lakewood Plaza Housing LLC, as the General Contractor to find innovative solutions to resolve excessive energy consumption. They entered into contracts with various subcontractors to perform this work. Pursuant to a subcontract agreement, Camooso Insulation LLC was the contractor who installed air space insulation in the attic space above the drywall ceiling above Cook’s apartment. Pursuant to a subcontract agreement, Advance Insulators LLC, is also a contractor who performed insulation work at the subject premises.
Camooso Insulation LLC installed insulation materials in the attic trusses at Lakewood Plaza above Plaintiff’s apartment in a negligent manner creating a dangerous and unsafe condition and/or allowed a dangerous condition to exist, creating a reasonably foreseeable risk for the kind of injury which occurred.
Advance Insulators LLC, performed work at Lakewood Plaza in a negligent manner creating a dangerous and unsafe condition and/or allowed a dangerous condition to exist, creating a reasonably foreseeable risk for the kind of injury which occurred.
Advance Insulators LLC, was negligent in failing to conduct inspections and/or supervise work at the subject premises, causing or allowing a dangerous and unsafe condition to exist which led to multiple ceiling collapses including the ceiling above Plaintiff’s apartment.
Energy Analysis Group LLC, was hired by Lakewood Plaza Housing LLC as a General Contractor and was responsible for the performance of services and safety protocols at the job site.
Lakewood Plaza Housing, LLC, as the property owners, and MSL Management, as the property managers, were responsible to inspect, maintain and/or repair said premises.
The defendants had a duty and undertaking to make sure safety protocols were being followed at their work site. Said protocols were not followed.
The defendants, through their agents, servants and employees, were negligent in their inspection, maintenance and repair of the premises, allowing a dangerous and unsafe condition that led to multiple ceiling collapses including the ceiling above Plaintiff’s apartment.
The defendants knew or should have known of other ceiling collapses and failed to take precautions or provide warnings to it’s tenants such as Plaintiff thus creating a foreseeable risk for the kind of injury which occurred.
The subcontractors were negligent in failing to conduct inspections and/or supervise work at the subject premises, causing or allowing a dangerous and unsafe condition to exist which led to multiple ceiling collapses including the ceiling above Plaintiff’s apartment.
As a direct and proximate result of their negligence, negligent supervision, carelessness and/or recklessness, Crooks has sustained serious, permanent and disabling injuries, which injuries include but are not limited to disc herniations at C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7, cervical radiculopathy and chronic pain syndrome; has been required to obtain medical treatment, and has been and will be prevented from engaging in his usual activities, all to his great financial detriment and loss.
The suit demands judgment against Lakewood Plaza Housing LLC, MSL Management & Development Corp, Energy Analysis Group LLC, Camooso Insulation LLC, and Advance Insulators LLC for compensatory damages together with interest and cost of suit.
The lawsuit was settled in court just as the trial got underway.
MSL Management & Development Corp. is a named defendant in two other lawsuits which remain pending.
One lawsuit was filed by Lakewood resident Agatha Demby.
According to her complaint filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Ocean County by Lakewood Attorney Mark S. Harrison Esq., she slipped and fell on ice on outdoor steps at 143 East Kennedy Boulevard, a property which is managed by MSL.
"At the time, the defendants were negligent, careless, and/or reckless in the ownership, maintenance, management, and supervision of the apartment complex.
"As a direct and proximate result of the above, plaintiff was caused to sustain severe and permanent injuries to various parts of her body, including the nervous system; was caused and will in the future be caused to sustain great pain and suffering, including mental anguish; and has been and will in the future be compelled to expend great sums of money for medical aid and attention in an effort to cure herself," the suit alleges.
The complaint demands judgment against Crossroads Realty Group LLC, Crossroads Manor Apartments, Goldstone Management, MSL Management & Development Corp., and Tony Saliola's Construction LLC jointly and/or severally, for compensatory damages together with interest, cost of suit, and counsel fees.
This complaint also demands a trial by jury.
A second lawsuit was filed by Lakewood residents Aracelis Figueroa and Victor Matos.
According to their complaint filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Ocean County by Northfield Attorney Patrick C. Joyce Esq.:
On July 4, 2021, Figueroa fell down the stairs in her apartment building at 102 Martin Luther King Drive - Lakewood Plaza Housing.
LSG Enterprises LLC and Lakewood Plaza Housing LLC d/b/a Lakewood Plaza Apartments own the apartment building. MSL Management & Development Corp. manages the property.
These defendants were responsible for the maintenance of the building, including the duty to inspect, perform preventative routine maintenance, and/or repair said premises in a safe condition which was reasonably fit and safe for its tenants.
The premises were in an unreasonably dangerous condition, including but not limited to the stairway having loose handrails which should have been repaired by MSL.
As a direct and proximate result of their negligence and carelessness, Aracelis Figueroa has sustained serious, permanent and disabling injuries, has been required to obtain medical treatment, has been and will be prevented from engaging in her usual activities.
Additionally, Victor Matos, her spouse, has been deprived of his spouse's services and consortium.
The complaint demands judgment against the defendants, LSG Enterprises LLC, Lakewood Plaza Housing LLC d/b/a Lakewood Plaza Apartments, and MSL Management & Development Corp. for damages together with interest and costs of suit.
The complaint demands a trial by jury of 12 persons.
LSG Enterprises LLC settled this lawsuit out of court. The lawsuit remains pending against the remaining defendants.
MSL Management & Development Corp. is represented by Madison, NJ Attorneys John P. O’Toole and Kristine Y. Pegno, Esq.
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