Jury verdict for injured woman is over-turned by Court of Appeals

JoAnn Finkbeiner recovered a modest jury verdict against the Baker College of Clinton Township after she fell on a sidewalk defect adjacent to the College.  Under a Macomb County ordinance, property owners are required to maintain the sidewalk adjacent to business premises in a conditon that is reasonably safe for pedestrians.  The Appellate Court judges ruled that this ordinance did not create any duty to pedestrians and therefore the College's violation of the ordinance could not be used by Finkbeiner as the basis for a negligence action.  The verdict for Finkbeiner was overturned and the case dismissed.