Man claims he broke neck because housing group didn't install handicapped accessible bathroom

A man is suing a not-for-profit organization that works to build affordable housing in  Chicago's Latino neighborhoods housing, claiming its failure to make his bathroom handicapped accessible caused him to break a vertebrae in his neck.

Miguel Ortiz filed suit Feb. 4 in Cook County Circuit Court against Hispanic Housing Development Authority.

According to the complaint, Ortiz was a resident in the defendant's property in the 3300 Block of West Division Street. He claims he informed the housing group he required a low tub or shower due to balance problems he experienced and even had his doctor submit a document requesting the change.

The defendant, however, failed to do so, causing Ortiz on July 23 to fall backward and break a vertebrae in his neck.

Ortiz is represented by Dennis J. Kellogg of the Law Office of Dennis J. Kellogg in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L001192.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and represents only one side of the story.