Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today applauded the decision by the Rhode Island Supreme Court affirming the Superior Court judgment in favor of the State of Rhode Island in the personal injury case of Simcha Berman v. Laura Sitrin, et al.
"I am very pleased that the Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court's judgment that the State of Rhode Island was not negligent in the case of Simcha Berman," said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. "While Mr. Berman's injuries are extremely unfortunate, as the decision rightly affirmed, those injuries were not the result of negligence on the part of the State. As this long and complex case draws to a close with the denial of motions for a new trial, I commend the thorough and conscientious work of Assistant Attorneys General James Lee and Brenda Baum in successfully defending the State."
The plaintiffs were seeking damages in excess of $30 million against the State related to the injury Mr. Berman suffered in 2000 when visiting Newport's Cliff Walk. In the April 2011 trial, a Superior Court jury found that the plaintiff had not proven that the State of Rhode Island was negligent in its responsibilities regarding Cliff Walk.