James Maietta probably wishes that he lived in an elevator building; especially after firefighters accidentally dropped him down a flight of stairs in November 2006. The 15-foot fall left Maietta crippled and confined to a Yonkers nursing home for a year. Now the man is suing the FDNY.
The incident occurred on November 23, 2006, after Maietta called 911 with health complaints and asked to be taken to a hospital. The man weighs 515 pounds, suffers from diabetes, and is unable to walk. Eventually, the fire department was called in to attempt to remove Maietta from his apartment. To get him down the stairs, firefighters rigged a plywood platform to a rope-and-pulley system.
Maietta claims that he was not tied down to the platform as ten men negotiated him down the stairway. He said that he told firefighters he was slipping off their makeshift gurney and was told "No you're not," before falling off the plywood and crashing down the cement stairs into a wall. His lawsuit details injuries to his neck, back, and legs. His lawyer said they are seeking damages in the seven figures range; The New York Sun quoted the number $5 million last week.
Firefighters are required to pass an annual fitness test to remain on the job. If they fail the test, they are removed from active duty and given an opportunity to improve. Members of the NYPD, on the other hand, face no barrier in remaining a cop no matter how out-of-shape they become.
