George Washington Bridge Suicide Death – The George Washington Bridge (GWB), a vital link between New York and New Jersey, has been a site of numerous tragic suicides over the years. In response to these incidents, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has implemented various safety measures. A significant legal development occurred when the New York appeals court ruled in favor of the Port Authority, deeming its suicide prevention efforts as “reasonable in light of the complexity and size of the bridge.”
In a notable case, the family of Vladimir Perlov filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Port Authority, alleging negligence for failing to prevent his suicide in January 2016. The plaintiffs argued that the Port Authority was aware of the high number of suicides at the GWB and should have installed suicide-prevention barriers along the pedestrian walkways.
However, the court dismissed the case, stating that the Port Authority was acting in a governmental capacity and did not owe a special duty to Perlov. The court emphasized that the Port Authority’s role in maintaining the bridge was complex, and its decisions regarding safety measures were reasonable given the bridge’s size and design .
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