Family Of Girl Hurt In Escalator Accident Files Lawsuit Against Macy's
PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – The family of a 10-year-old girl is filing a lawsuit against Macy's after her foot was mangled by an escalator in August.
Juliana Valdez was back-to-school shopping at Macy's with her mother and brother at the Garden State Plaza Shopping Center in Paramus when her right sneaker was sucked into the escalator, trapping her leg.
Family Of Girl Hurt In Escalator Accident Files Lawsuit Against Macy's
A bystander pressed the emergency stop button. Police officers, rescue workers and several other people dismantled the landing area to free her leg.
The girl was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries to her leg and foot. Valdez lost two toes and has undergone 15 surgeries since the incident, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported.
Her father, Juan Valdez, said his daughter is still recovering and is having to learn how to walk again.
"I don't wish this happen to nobody," he said.
The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages and claims the escalator was like a death-trap.
"The gap between the steps were twice as wide as they should have been," attorney Samuel Davis said. "Poorly maintained, it had a cracked support member, it was a tragedy waiting to happen."
Davis said the escalator is one of the oldest in the state, dating back to 1958.
1010 WINS has reached out to Macy's for comment.
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