Man sues city, alleging negligence during Federal Street renovation

YOUNGSTOWN -- A city man said he fell and broke his leg during the renovation to reopen Federal Street downtown to two-way traffic because of the negligence of the city and its contractor who did the work.
Atty. Michael O. Kivlighan filed the lawsuit Friday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on behalf of his client John R. Thompson, Radio Road, Austintown.
The suit says that on Oct. 2, 2004, Thompson crossed Federal Street at Phelps Street within the crosswalk. The crosswalk had been continuously dug up and filled unevenly with gravel as part of the Federal Street work, the suit continues.
Thompson claims there were no barrels or other markings to inform pedestrians of any uneven spots or potential hazards of walking through the work area.
The suit said the negligence of the city and Parella-Pannunzio of Youngstown, its contractor for the work, resulted in Thompson's stepping into an uneven spot, which caused him to fall and break his leg.
Thompson said he has accumulated numerous medical bills and lost work time. He has asked the trial court to award him damages totaling $50,000. The case has not yet been assigned to a common pleas judge.