Fitness trainer sues over Olivia elevator incident

A personal trainer injured in an elevator inside his West Side apartment rental building is suing his landlord, Stonehenge Properties, and two elevator companies who service the lifts at the Olivia at 315 West 33rd Street, the New York Daily News reported. Corey Hill, who suffered neck and back injuries in the Nov. 12 incident which allegedly saw the elevator in freefall, said it has left him requiring arm braces to move around.

Transel, one of the firms responsible for servicing the elevators, was also the servicer for the elevator at 285 Madison Avenue, where 41-year-old Young & Rubicam executive Suzanne Hart was killed in December.

There are at least eight active cases against the Transel, it was previously reported. One was filed by the building super at 17-19 Union Square West, who became permanently injured after falling down the elevator shaft when he stepped through open doors before the elevator had arrived. He alleges Transel bypassed the elevator’s parking device which would prevent such an accident. Another suit was filed by a woman who tripped into the elevator at 420 Lexington Avenue when it did not align with the open doors.

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Hill’s lawyer, Susan Karten, called Hill’s accident proof that “there is a breakdown in the elevator industry.”

Andrew Hoffman, CEO of Stonehenge, said Hill’s description of what happened “is without merit and we have video evidence that confirms it. He spoke with the concierge afterward. He said he did not need medical or police attention. No ambulance was called.” [NYDN]