Family members of a man who died in a District of Columbia train station are suing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for $100 million dollars after they say station workers did nothing to help the man.
In a lawsuit filed Monday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, family members of the man, Okiemute Whiteru, 35, claim he fell down an escalator at the Judiciary Square Metro station on October 19, 2013.
As he attempted to compose himself, the man fell again, nearly eight feet, backwards over a berm and off the platform, where he laid dying for four days, the lawsuit claims.
“These events were seen by agents, servants and/or employees of Defendant WMATA, and recorded by Defendant WMATA’s video surveillance cameras located on the subject property,” the lawsuit reads.
Whiteru needed immediate medical attention, according to the lawsuit, and despite the knowledge of station workers that he had fallen on his head, he did not receive it.
On October 23, 2013, WMATA employees “finally and belatedly” discovered the man, but unfortunately, after four days, he had “succumbed to his injuries and died a tragic, painful and untimely death,” the lawsuit reads.
The suit is seeking through a jury trial at least $100 million in damages from WMATA for negligence and wrongful death claims.
Morgan Dye, a spokeswoman for WMATA, said the agency is unable to comment on pending litigation.
WMATA has 60 days to respond to the lawsuit.
Read the full lawsuit here:
Whiteru v WMATA Complaint
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