A lawsuit was filed on behalf of a daughter of Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander against the owners and managers of a Porter Ranch parking structure where she was hurt in 2013 when the vehicle she was riding in drove off the second floor of the edifice.
Englander’s wife, Jayne, brought the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday on behalf of their daughter, Lauren, who is a minor. The suit names as defendants Shepherd of the Hills Church and Valley Outreach Synagogue, as well as the driver, Lindsey Abbott, who is described in the complain as a minor with a poor driving record.
The suit alleges negligence, negligent entrustment and premises liability. It seeks unspecified damages.
Representatives for the church and the synagogue could not be immediately reached.
The suit states that Lauren Englander was present in the parking structure as a guest at an event hosted by the defendants on Sept. 5. 2013.
“Plaintiff suffered a serious injury as a result of Abbott driving plaintiff off the edge of the second floor parking structure into a planter on the first level,” the suit states.
No signs existed warning about the edge of the second floor of the still- incomplete structure on Rinaldi Street and there were no procedures in place to warn guests of the inherent danger, the suit states.
The defendants also knew that Abbott had a “poor driving history” and was a minor with a driver’s permit, the suit states.
Lauren Englander had to seek medical help and will have to continue to do so in the future, the suit states.
“Plaintiff also has suffered and will continue to suffer great pain, anguish and loss of enjoyment of life,” the suit states.
She also has been unable to “attend to her usual employment duties” and has lost earnings as a result of the accident, the suit alleges.
