Man Files Over Hammerstein Injury

Yosef Allen alleges he suffered “severe and permanent personal injuries” to his back, neck and head when an unidentified man landed on him after falling from the second balcony, according to court documents obtained by the New York Daily News.

While the suit targets the unidentified man who fell, it also charges the venue with “permitting concertgoers to be unruly; in permitting excessive amounts of alcohol” and “failing to furnish proper guardrails on the upper levels and balconies.”

Glenn Faegenburg, an attorney for Allen, told the paper his client “absorbed the impact” of the Oct. 21 accident, leaving him with multiple spinal fractures, ligament damage in his knee that required two surgeries and “the speed with which he can call up words has been affected.”

A representative for the Hammerstein Ballroom said the venue has “never had such a bizarre incident before and it has safely hosted concerts produced by the big promoters for over 17 years.”

The suit is seeking unspecified damages.