A commuter is suing the city's transit authority, alleging she was injured when she was thrown from a train door that stayed open while the train took off down the tracks.
Yolanda Garza filed a lawsuit July 16 in Cook County Circuit Court against the Chicago Transit Authority.
According to the complaint, on July 18, 2014, Garza was aboard the Orange Line train in Chicago when she pulled the pull-down knob for the train doors to open at Roosevelt Station. However, the suit says, "the train malfunctioned after the doors opened allowing the plaintiff to exit when the train simultaneously proceeded to leave the station at an accelerated speed."
Garza alleges, "After placing my foot out of the door, the train ... proceeded to leave ... throwing me with great force against a steel guard rail at the end of the platform."
The lawsuit states the CTA failed to exercise due care, and ensure passenger safety and the safety sensors were operating in sync with the train and its speed.
As a result, the suit says, the plaintiff suffered a "shock to the brain, spine and nervous system." In addition "muscles, ligaments, membrances, nerves, blood vessels and tissues of plaintiff's body were torn, bruised and injured," the lawsuit states, and, in particular, she suffered a head injury that "exacerbates her learning disability."
The plaintiff alleges injury, pain and suffering, and medical expenses.
Garza seeks damages of more than $50,000, plus costs. She is self-represented.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L007238.