A veteran Portland police officer who says he suffered serious injuries after falling down a homeowner’s front steps during a welfare check is suing the 76-year-old woman for $2 million, arguing that the staircase violated city code because it had no handrails.
Attorney and YouTuber Steve Lehto discussed the case on his Lehto’s Law podcast, drawing from reporting by journalist Amina Rashid and explaining why the lawsuit, while likely surprising to many homeowners, is not necessarily as unusual under Oregon law as it might first appear.
The officer, Bradley Jett, had served with the Portland Police Bureau for 17 years when he went to Rosemary Southwood’s home for a welfare check and later fell down roughly six concrete steps after a door handle came loose while he was trying to shut and lock the front door.
Lehto Says The Missing Handrails Are Central To The Case
According to Lehto’s summary of Rashid’s reporting, Jett broke one finger, dislocated two others, and suffered injuries to his head, arm and shoulder…