Lawsuits Plague Second Avenue Subway

As the Second Avenue subway's massive construction project continues to roar through the Upper East Side, the city is being hit with huge personal injury lawsuits. Claims totaling $27M are already on file.

George Behoyos was biking on Second near 95th Street when he came upon a construction site “set up in an obstructive and unsafe way.” He was hit by a cab and lost his spleen, his $5 million suit says. He also suffered a collapsed lung, a bruised kidney and postsurgery pneumonia. Elizabeth Bengelsdorf was crossing Second at 87th Street when a missing curb caused her to trip, fracturing an elbow, her $5 million notice of claim says. Javier Germidio was driving on Second and 87th last December when he hit an unguarded trench, according to his $2 million suit, which adds that he suffered facial lacerations and “emotional anguish.”

The city already pays out tens of millions annually in slip-and-fall type claims. The first section of the new line is scheduled to be finished in 2016.