SEATTLE—An ultramarathon athlete was awarded $13.1 million by a jury for severe injuries sustained from a fall on a Seattle sidewalk in 2021.
The King County jury held the city of Seattle and the owners of an apartment building accountable for the amount, as reported by the Seattle Times.
Lesley Mettler Auld, 53, stated in a news release from her attorneys that she is unable to run again and faces challenges with walking following the incident on a sidewalk in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.
“Today, 34 months after the fall, I still struggle to climb the stairs in my home on hands and knees,” she expressed.
A professional fitness coach, Mettler Auld has participated in numerous ultramarathons, races exceeding the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles, her legal team mentioned.
Her fall occurred on a sidewalk known for being consistently covered in water and algae, according to her lawsuit. Testimony from other residents confirmed similar incidents.
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Mettler Auld sustained severe quadriceps damage and underwent multiple surgeries.
A spokesperson from the Seattle city attorney’s office opted not to provide a comment.
