Woman Awarded $750K After Sidewalk Fall Outside Prince George's County Building

Christine Woods was permanently disabled after tripping on uneven bricks in the pedestrian plaza.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Prince George's County woman has been awarded $750,000 by a jury after she was permanently disabled following a fall on an uneven sidewalk outside a county government building. Christine Woods was walking towards a disability ramp in the pedestrian plaza outside the Hyattsville Justice Center when her foot caught on protruding bricks, causing immediate injuries including facial lacerations, knee damage, and a worsening of pre-existing spinal conditions. Woods' legal team argued the county was negligent in failing to properly inspect and maintain the sidewalk, which contained significant height differentials and tripping hazards.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of local governments maintaining safe public infrastructure, especially around government buildings that see high foot traffic. The significant jury award sends a message that neglecting basic safety can have serious consequences, both for injured individuals and the municipalities responsible.

The details

According to the complaint, Christine Woods was walking towards the disability ramp in the pedestrian plaza outside the Hyattsville Justice Center and County Services Building when her foot caught on uneven, protruding bricks in the walkway. The fall caused immediate injuries including facial lacerations requiring sutures, the loss of a tooth, bilateral knee injuries with cartilage damage, a rotator cuff strain, and a worsening of pre-existing spinal conditions. Woods' treatment included emergency care, orthopedic consultations, MRIs, CT scans, physical therapy, and more. Medical records showed she reached maximum medical improvement with permanent impairments and now requires the use of a cane, is unable to stand for extended periods, and has been unable to return to work.

  • The incident occurred as Christine Woods was walking towards the disability ramp in the pedestrian plaza outside the Hyattsville Justice Center and County Services Building.
  • A jury in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County awarded $750,000 to Woods on March 2, 2026.

The players

Christine Woods

A Prince George's County woman who was permanently disabled after tripping on an uneven sidewalk outside a county government building.

Prince George's County

The county government that was sued for negligence and failure to properly inspect and maintain the sidewalk where the incident occurred.

Jordan D. Howlette

The managing attorney at Justly Prudent who represented Christine Woods in the lawsuit against Prince George's County.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“No one should be permanently disabled because their local government failed to maintain a sidewalk outside its own courthouse.”

— Jordan D. Howlette, Managing Attorney, Justly Prudent (Patch.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to uphold the $750,000 jury award to Christine Woods.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for local governments to prioritize the maintenance of public infrastructure, especially in high-traffic areas around government buildings. The significant jury award sends a strong message that neglecting basic safety can have serious consequences for both injured individuals and the municipalities responsible.