The MTA may owe $90 million after a Brooklyn jury ruled in favor of Lamont Powell, who lost a leg, hip joint, and most of an arm when a subway train ran him over in 2018. Despite being intoxicated when he fell onto the tracks at Broadway Junction, Powell’s lawyer argued the accident could have been avoided if the train operator had pulled the emergency brake in time. Witnesses tried to alert the driver, but he mistook Powell for a bag of garbage and failed to stop, despite having ample distance.
Powell, who can no longer work or use prosthetics, will now live in supportive housing. His medical expenses could reach $17 million. The case marks one of the largest payouts against the MTA, which is reviewing the verdict. This follows other recent large awards, including a $72.5 million bus injury case and a $110 million verdict in 2019 for a man paralyzed by falling debris.