Lawsuit blames woman's death on Mt. Lebanon revitalization project

The family of a woman who died after she fell on a construction cone being used as part of the Mt. Lebanon Vibrant Uptown project on Washington Road has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Bonnie L. Coester, 87, of Mt. Lebanon, was walking to her car parked in front of Il Pizzaiolo and Bistro 19 on June 28 when she fell.

Her head and face struck the curb. She suffered broken bones in her face, a hematoma to the front of her skull, a concussion and a slew of related injuries, according to the lawsuit.

Coester was taken by ambulance to UPMC Mercy and received additional treatment at St. Clair Hospital and a skilled nursing facility, but the complaint said she failed to recover. Coester’s injuries caused significant weakness and immobility that led to blood clots in her lungs, the lawsuit said. She died on Sept. 15.

The complaint was filed Friday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court by Coester’s son, Craig A. Coester, who is the executor of her estate. It names as defendants Mt. Lebanon; Plavchak Construction Co., which is serving as its contractor on the project; and Gateway Engineers Inc., a consultant.

A spokeswoman for the municipality said she could not comment on the pending litigation. Messages left for Plavchak and Gateway were not immediately returned.

The first phase of the project was approved by the Mt. Lebanon Commission on May 11, 2021, and includes sidewalks, lighting, planters and seating. The project aims to transform the Uptown neighborhood into a destination for dining, shopping, arts and entertainment, according to Mt. Lebanon’s website.

The $3.9 million project has been discussed since the municipality approved its existing comprehensive plan in 2013.

The lawsuit alleges that the project has been the subject of safety concerns, including from a Mt. Lebanon commissioner.

“Those concerns, predating the injury and eventual death of Bonnie L. Coester, have been ignored,” the lawsuit said. “This cloak of secrecy, the attempt to cover up the extent of the hazards this project has created, and which threatens every Mt. Lebanon resident and guest, has led to the death of one of its beloved citizens, Bonnie L. Coester.”

Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Craig Grella wrote in an Oct. 17 post on Open Lebo that the commissioners were not made aware of Coester’s fall or death.

“I was not aware, but it didn’t surprise me,” Grella wrote.

He said that he has sent several emails over the course of months to the municipal manager, solicitor, staff and other commission members.

“To date, those concerns have seemingly been ignored, which is why you are reading about it here,” he wrote.

In the post, Grella went on to question the wisdom of holding the Pumpkin Patch Parade along Washington Road. The parade was, ultimately, canceled.

“I am not an alarmist,” he wrote. “(But) can you get your kids to stand absolutely still during a parade and not play near elevation changes of several feet with nothing in their way but a single piece of yellow caution tape?”

Grella did not return a call seeking comment.

The lawsuit said the size of the construction warning cone that Coester tripped on violated local, state and federal regulations and industry standards.

The complaint said the base of the cone extended too far onto the sidewalk and exceeded 1 inch, making it hazardous. The cone was likely placed on the sidewalk by Plavchak under the supervision of Gateway, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit includes claims for negligence and wrongful death and alleges that the municipality should have been aware of the potential hazards associated with the construction project.

“Mt. Lebanon’s commissioners were attempting to avoid the public fallout from continued delays on a project that was already languishing and causing tension among its citizens,” the lawsuit said.