Man sues Youngstown after fall on East Side sidewalk

YOUNGSTOWN — A Belmont Avenue man has sued the city and four John Doe defendants for more than $25,000, saying he was seriously injured when he fell through an uncovered city sewer manhole while walking on the sidewalk on Jacobs Road near Wardle Avenue.

Thomas Carter said his Feb. 18, 2013, fall on the city’s East Side, in which he suffered head, neck and back injuries, occurred due to the negligence of the city, which had prior notice of the defect.

The civil lawsuit, filed this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, says the John Does, whose identities are unknown, may be city employees or agents.

The city law department did not respond to a request for comment today. The case is assigned to Judge John M. Durkin.