Quadriplegic Teen Files $12 Million Lawsuit for Injuries from Tragic Fall

By Merylee Robbins

Published on August 25, 2005

On May 23, Asher Mendonsa and some friends entered the vacant Parkway Towers to take some photographs of the building and the downtown skyline. They climbed to the third floor and proceeded to take pictures. As Mendonsa concentrated on his photography, he stepped onto a poorly covered opening in the floor, which gave way under his body weight, causing him to fall two stories to the ground floor. He suffered severe injury to his spine, brain, head, and the rest of his body, causing complete paralysis from the neck down.

Mendonsa's injury suit has been brought against the owner of the Parkway Towers, Gary Fillers. The attorney for Mendonsa argues that Fillers demonstrated negligence by not properly securing the dangerous building against trespassers. The lawsuit claims that the gate leading to the towers was carelessly left open and unlocked, making Filler liable for the injuries that occurred there. Mendonsa and his family are requestin $10 million in compensation for Asher and $1 million for each of his parents.

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