County denies negligence in beach walkway lawsuit – South Strand news

Georgetown County denies it acted with negligence in connection to a Delaware woman who fell on a damaged beach walkway in North Litchfield this spring.

Denise Stasulli was visiting the beach April 9 when she fell on the stairs of Walkway 52. A stair board was missing and there was no handrail, according to her lawsuit, which names the county as well as the Litchfield Beaches Property Owners Association as defendants.

Another media outlet reported Stasulli broke her wrist in the fall.

Stasulli is seeking actual and punitive damages and claims the defendantsacted negligently by not maintaining the walkway, which was damaged by Hurricane Matthew, and failing to warn people about the dangerous conditions.

In its answer to the lawsuit, the county denies the allegations and says Stasulli acted with negligence by, among other things, failing to keep a "proper lookout" and "walking in an area that was designated off limits to the public."

The county requests that the suit be dismissed.

After the lawsuit was filed in May, County Councilman John Thomas told the South Strand News the county took steps to make people aware of damaged walkways, including putting up barriers such as caution tape, nailed boards and closed signs.

But people ignored or removed the barriers, Thomas said at the time. Ive personally seen boards with nails ripped down, he said.

The walkways are owned by the county.

Litchfield Beaches Property Owners Association has not filed its answer to the complaint, according to online court records. Court documents show the association was served with a summons and complaint July 24.

County Public Works Director Ray Funnye said Aug. 1 repair work on damaged walkways in North Litchfield is 98 percent complete.

"We have a couple of punch list items that are left to be completed and we'll be finished," he said.

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County denies negligence in beach walkway lawsuit - South Strand news