Boy's Leg Amputated After Building Collapse, Family Sues

A week and a half ago, three people, including two boys, were caught when a Bronx building's parapet collapsed on top of them. Hundreds of pounds of concrete fell from a building on Grand Concourse near 183rd Street; 10-year-old Damion Hope Rosa's left leg was partially severed, and doctors later amputated it below the knee.

Now, Rosa's family is suing the building's owner, Gerald Leiblich, for $55 million. Leiblich is a developer whose holdings include the Russian Tea Room and the restaurant Beppe in the Flatiron District. According to the Post, the Rosas' lawyer Maxine Susseles stated that when Leiblich took out a $1.425 million mortgage on the building, he "had to agree to make repairs to the building, 'including but not limited to the parapet walls.'" Susseles said, "If he did the repairs, then the question becomes, 'Did he do it properly?' If he didn't do it, why not?"

And an upset Damion Hope Rosa, still in the hospital, spoke to the Post yesterday, relaying this message to Leiblich, "What happens if it was one of your sons? How would you feel if that was one of your sons or it happened to you? How would you feel? Sad? Hurt?" He said he saw two construction workers who had been working on the building, "They were going to fix it that day, and they thought there was no one down there, so they just dropped it, I think." Rosa faces more surgery and possibly further amputation to his left leg due to infection.

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By Jen Chung in News on July 12, 2007 7:59 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

Just because the lawyer names $55 million in the legal papers does not mean that is how much the child will actually collect. The case will probably settle for between $2-3 MM.

guest

How can one say 55 mil is too much for someone who has lost their feet?

Consider that there are currently two ladies suing Toys R Us for 400 mil after being asked to show their receipts before leaving a store. What did THEY lose?!

guest

I would not give up my leg for 55 mil, somethings are priceless. If that happened to me, I would sue for 55 mil just to rebuild my bionic leg.

guest

I hope he gets every penny, and bankrupts this "developer".

A young boy loses his leg, will never get to enjoy things young boys love like swimming, playing baseball, running down the street playing tag or whatever.

When you people have children, you'll understand the pain "this family" feels.

Until the USA starts dealing with corruption the way China does (a bullet to the head) then a lawsuit is the next best thing.

guest

If you had a choice, would you sacrifice your leg for 55 million?

Thoughts?

guest

Why shouldn't it be a ticket to generations of wealth for the family? People receive windfalls for much less justified events.

I agree that it shouldn't be the point of the settlement, but to worry about it as a side effect seems stupid.

guest

Poor fuckin kid. There is no amount to replace his leg. He's just a child! I hope he gets every cent.

guest

hmmm, 2nd guessers.......wait till you have a child

guest

here is the basic problem with lawsuits

yes the developer should be held accountable

yes it should be an amount that really stings and gets people to pay attention

but no it should not be a ticket to generations of wealth for this family

Rocknrope

Idiots, it's not a question of "too much for a leg." The amount has to be impactful enough for everyone to sit up and pay attention, particularly in this town of scummy developers. Hopefully this makes other developers think twice before cutting some safety corners to make a buck.

MT

I second that. This poor kid's life has been irrevocably altered because of someone's negligence. I hope they are made to be sure he's taken care of for the rest of his life.