Sophia Rostom, a young mother, was attacked in Brooklyn’s Farragut Houses while she was visiting a friend.
The New York City Housing Authority is being sued by a woman who was stabbed 14 times and nearly lost half of her blood at a Brooklyn apartment complex. She claims the agency neglected to fix the damaged door her alleged attacker used to enter the property for five years.
Sophia Rostom alleges negligence by NYCHA in the case, which The Messenger examined, and she is seeking unspecified damages.
According to the lawsuit, the 26-year-old mother was attacked on March 28, 2023, while she was visiting a friend who resides in the Farragut Houses.
Authorities claim that ex-convict Maurice Brister assaulted Rostom while she was waiting for the lobby elevator. Brister stabbed her 14 times, including in the head, heart, arms, lungs, buttocks, and one leg.
Authorities claim that on the same day, Brister stabbed a second woman. According to open court records, he has entered a not guilty plea and his criminal case is still pending.
The lawsuit claims that during the almost deadly incident, Rostom lost a significant amount of blood. Her life was saved by New York-Presbyterian Hospital surgeons who performed heart and lung surgery.
However, the lawsuit claims that Rostom is still experiencing physical and psychological effects from the attack and is unable to go back to work.
The case describes two building audits that were carried out in 2022 and 2018. Almost every front door of the Farragut Houses had broken or damaged locks on them both occasions.
According to the lawsuit, the NYCHA leadership was made aware of the results but took no action to guarantee that the locks on the doors would be changed or repaired.
The lawsuit claims that after the vicious attack, the doors are still not fixed.
Attorneys John Morgan and Moses Ahn of Morgan & Morgan told The Messenger in a statement that “all landlords — from the owner of a single home residence to the nation’s largest public housing authority — have a responsibility to ensure residents and guests will be safe.” “What our client suffered is a terrifying example of what can happen when landlords allegedly fail in that duty.”
The statement goes on to say that the incident “derailed her career and altered her young life forever.” She hasn’t entirely recovered and is still unable to return to work nearly a year after this awful tragedy.”
“This lawsuit is about more than getting justice for Ms. Rostom,” it said. “In order to enhance safety for the more than 3,000 residents of the Farragut Houses as well as the 360,000 residents of its other properties and visitors, NYCHA must act right away. According to our lawsuit, this incident might have been avoided, and Morgan & Morgan will not stop until NYCHA is held responsible and enhances security for both residents and visitors.”
A request for response from the NYCHA’s supervisor, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, went unanswered.
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