Princeton Family Sues Medical Center Over Damages from Waste in Home

Matthew Hersh

Lucia Rossi of Henry Avenue and her family have filed suit against the University Medical Center of Princeton for damages to their home which the family's lawyer says was caused by medical waste and raw sewage backing up from a nearby sewer line. Ms. Rossi claims that The Medical Center, which is located adjacent to her home, is responsible for payment of nearly $70,000 in damages. The Rossis have also filed suit against the Borough of Princeton and the Princeton Sewer Authority claiming that the two entities are responsible for performing cleanup and repairs of the sewer line at the residence.

The amount the Rossis are seeking includes repair of plumbing and structural damage to their home, cost of temporary residence during cleanup, and storage fees.

Attorney Nicholas J. Leonardis of Edison said the Rossis experienced two separate instances between April and May of 2002 that resulted in "the depositing of a significant amount of raw sewage and medical waste" into the Rossi household. The waste, which destroyed many personal belongings, is said to have contained both fecal strep and fecal coliform, according to a laboratory analysis by the International Hydronics Corporation in Rocky Hill.

The Rossis allege in their certified Answers to Interrogatories that Jim Lafferty of the Princeton Sewer Authority told Luciano Rossi, Ms. Rossi's son, that the backup was due to a problem with the laundry department at the hospital. They also allege that "a significant amount of gauze, medical waste, and medical linen; including bed sheets and pillow cases" was found in the sewer line that originates at the hospital. The family goes on to claim that Mr. Lafferty advised the Rossis that the "direct cause of the sewer backup" was the result of hospital-related activity.

Donald Mayer-Brown, manager of the Princeton Sewer Operating Committee (PSOC), wrote in a July 2002 letter to the Engineering Department at the hospital that materials retrieved from the blocked sewer were believed to be from the Medical Center. In the letter, Mr. Mayer-Brown also recommended that the hospital remove "significant deposits of debris as soon as possible," to "protect [the hospital's] facilities, as well as the downstream property owners."

Mr. Mayer-Brown said Tuesday that the hospital acted on PSOC requests to clean and vacuum the debris from two laterals connected to the Henry Street sewer.

While the hospital has been cooperative with the Township, it maintains a wait-and-see standpoint regarding the Rossi family's claims. Medical Center spokeswoman Carol Norris addressed current allegations by stating the hospital will take responsibility if the current investigation finds it at fault.

"If the outcome of this examination indicates that we are responsible for the situation, then we will accept all responsibility and do the right thing," Ms. Norris said Tuesday.