Stark & Stark Secures $1.87M Verdict
The Lawrenceville-based law firm of Stark & Stark announced that shareholder Evan J. Lide has secured a verdict totaling $1.87 million for 62-year-old Debra Forman after she tripped and fell at the historic Cranbury Inn in Cranbury.
At the date of the incident, November 4, 2017, Forman was attending a wedding and tripped and fell on a fireplace that had been erected in the newer part of the building. Forman fell forward, landing on her face, resulting in non-displaced fractures on her nose and a non-displaced right humerus fracture. A few days after being discharged from the hospital, she exhibited post-concussion symptoms and later developed knee pain. It was also later determined that she had suffered a traumatic brain injury from the accident.
The Inn served as its own general contractor on the hearth extension that caused Forman’s fall, in which it was raised 1.375 inches. The building’s site inspection by a liability expert after the accident determined the hearth was a tripping hazard and was five times what the ASTM standards, the ADA, and the building code required (.25 inches).
This case was presided by the Honorable Christopher D. Rafano, J.S.C., in New Brunswick. After two weeks of trial, Forman was awarded $1.35 million for pain and suffering, $402,596 for her loss of earning capacity, and her husband was awarded $120,000 for his loss of consortium.
“I am thankful that the jury saw the truth in this case and that her reputation was vindicated,” Lide said. “When Debbie tripped over the raised fireplace hearth extension, she did in fact suffer a traumatic brain injury that has had devastating consequences for her and her family. This verdict means so much to Debbie and her family and I am proud of the work and resources dedicated by our team.”
Some of Forman’s injuries were not immediately known and many of her symptoms developed over time. Some of her pre-existing conditions (like migraines and a knee injury) returned or were exacerbated by the fall, and other injuries, like one to her bicep tendon that required surgery three years after the incident, were directly related to the injuries suffered immediately following the accident. The defense argued that Forman was faking many of her injuries.
Another interesting component of this case was the fact that the ASTM and ADA standards are voluntary, and the Township of Cranbury, where the Inn is located, did not adopt them and they were therefore not legally binding. The plaintiffs, however, were able to argue that the legality of the standards ultimately did not matter because the hearth posed a dangerous condition that lacked any visual cues which would have drawn attention to the potential hazard.
TESU Gets NEH Grant
Thomas Edison State University (TESU) has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Spotlight on Humanities Development Grant for the university’s project, Incorporating DEI Concepts and Content Into Humanities General Education Courses.
The $60,000 NEH grant, the first of its kind for the university, will be dispersed over two years to support the university’s integration of diversity and inclusion themes across a broader swath of its curriculum.
“We work continuously to update our academic offerings with a particular focus on incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into relevant course content,” said Dr. Tara Kent, associate dean of the Heavin School of Arts, Sciences, and Technology at TESU and Director of Undergraduate Studies, who is working through the project’s implementation with Dr. Burton Peretti, assistant dean at the school. “This funding will enable us to extend our efforts in these areas.”
According to Kent, the award will also support the expansion of the school’s undergraduate Certificate in Diversity. The certificate program will provide students with a foundation to explore social inequalities related to gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, social class and disabilities. The multidisciplinary certificate will include courses in the social sciences and humanities and will provide students with the foundational knowledge to understand historic and contemporary sources of social inequities.
“The objective of the certificate program is to develop culturally competent professionals who are well prepared for living and working in a diverse local and global society,” noted Kent. “The coursework will enhance students’ baccalaureate studies personally and professionally, and cultivate informed and empowered learners.”
According to NEH’s website, this funding cycle includes the first round of awards made under the federal agency’s new Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education grant program. Developed as part of the agency’s American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present and Future initiative, the program supports humanities teaching and research projects that benefit underserved populations at small- to mid-sized colleges and universities.
“We are extremely grateful to receive this highly competitive award,” said Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, president of the university. “Purposeful DEI efforts are reshaping the ways higher education is addressing social disparities and the distribution of opportunity while strengthening the value and applicability of our academic programs. We have made it a priority to embed these efforts across our curriculum and student learning environment. The NEH support reinforces that commitment and helps continue to build an environment that embraces the unique experiences, aspirations and identities of all our students.”
To learn more about the Heavin School of Arts, Sciences, and Technology, visit tesu.edu/heavin.
Study Suggests Increased Capacity for Trenton Housing
Greater Trenton, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting economic revitalization in New Jersey’s capital city, has released its updated Downtown Trenton residential market study, in sponsorship with Wells Fargo and New Jersey Realtors Association, to determine the market potential and optimum market position for newly introduced housing units in Downtown Trenton.
The study determined that the updated potential market in the Greater Downtown Trenton Study Area is a third higher than in 2018 and can support up to 1,270 new residential units, including 995 rental apartments, 200 for-sale rowhouses/townhouses, and 75 for-sale condominiums over the next five years.
According to the study, the city-wide annual average potential market over the next five years for new and existing housing units is 5,670 households. This annual potential market for new and existing housing units is further refined within the Greater Downtown Trenton Study Area to 2,760 younger singles and couples, empty nesters and retirees, and traditional and non-traditional families of all incomes.
“We’re excited to see continued healthy residential demand within our historic and diverse capital city,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “From its unique cultural assets to its robust arts community, wonderful mix of restaurants, and its tremendous highway and rail access, Trenton stands strong as an attractive destination to live, work, play, and visit.”
“Greater Trenton was formed to create opportunities for all current and future residents and businesses in Trenton by advancing economic development” said Kevin Cummings, Chair of Greater Trenton. “We are pleased to commission this study which quantifies the residential demand within Trenton’s downtown core in furtherance of our mission.”
“Trenton continues to benefit from a 7 percent increase in population to nearly 91,000 residents and becoming one of the top ten largest municipalities in the entire state” said George Sowa, CEO of Greater Trenton. “As we look to maximize Trenton’s residential market, it will be important to focus on developing higher-density housing types while also redeveloping existing buildings in Downtown Trenton.”
The study noted that Trenton’s attraction as a place offering a highly transit-oriented location; range of affordability; vibrant arts community; rich history; and being a welcoming community combined with the city’s high walk score position it exceptionally well for continued growth.
“There are numerous real estate assets, both historic and modern, that enhance the attractiveness of residential living in Downtown Trenton,” said Jarrod Grasso, Chief Executive Officer at New Jersey Realtors Association. “Prominent attractions in Trenton from the Old Barracks to the Cure insurance Arena to the War Memorial and others are also complimented by Mercer County’s regional attractions including Grounds for Sculpture, Princeton University Art Museum, Washington Crossing Historic Park and more.”
The study also noted that the aftermath of the housing crash continues to reverberate through the housing market nearly 15 years later as evidenced by significant changes in market preferences from single-use subdivisions in exurban locations to mixed-use, walkable developments, particularly in downtown and intown neighborhoods. This transformation has been driven by the convergence of the preferences of the two largest generations in the history of America: the estimated 69.6 million Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964, and the estimated 72.1 million Millennials, who were born from 1977 to 1996 and, in 2010, surpassed the Boomers in population.
The convergence of two generations of this size — simultaneously reaching a point when urban housing matches their life stage — is unprecedented. The preference for urban living evidenced by both younger and older one- and two-person households has been a primary force in downtown redevelopment across the country, and continues despite press articles to the contrary, citing anecdotal pandemic-induced moves out of cites. Although this trend was notable at the onset of the pandemic, significant numbers of households who had left their urban neighborhoods have now returned or have been replaced by others, and as the coronavirus is perceived by many to be less of a threat, urban occupancies are resuming pre-pandemic levels.
The pandemic trend of rising single-family detached home purchases also continues across the country, reducing inventory and increasing pressure on home values, resulting in a significant decline in housing affordability. Although recent interest rate increases have had an impact on purchase volume, house prices are currently holding steady. Another significant shift is the Millennials’ strong propensity for renting rather than owning. This is due in part because of their relative youth — many do not have sufficient funds for a down payment and many others are burdened by student debt — and in part because the prior collapse of the housing market made many of them skeptical about the value of owning versus renting.
Both the 2018 and updated 2023 studies were conducted by Zimmerman/Volk Associates, Inc., which has a national reputation for innovative market analysis based on its proprietary target market methodology.
