Melanie Paulick Secures Dismissal in Premises Liability Case

Melanie Paulick successfully secured a dismissal for a large public entity in a premises liability case by showing that the entity owed no duty to the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged he suffered serious injuries when his bicycle wheel fell into an improperly covered utility vault on a sidewalk near the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Chase Street in Los Angeles, causing him to fall to the pavement. Paulick demonstrated that the public entity had no jurisdiction or control over the sidewalk or the utility vaults and covers at the location, establishing that it could not be held responsible for the alleged injuries. Her arguments resulted in the court dismissing the claims entirely, protecting the public entity from liability.