BRIEF: Former student sues U.

Former student Branko Mitrovic has filed a lawsuit against the University for failing to properly maintain a parking treadle at the parking lot at 37th and Walnut streets. After failing to receive compensation from the Office of Risk Management, Mitrovic filed a complaint last January in the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia. In his complaint, Mitrovic claims that the University allowed the spikes on the parking treadle "to exist in an unreasonably sharp condition," and allowed debris "to build up around the treadle, not allowing the treadle to operate and retract properly." As a result, Mitrovic claims he suffered a fracture and a laceration of his foot, which caused him "prolonged bleeding and pain" and required surgery. Ron Jasner, director of the Office of Risk Management, refused to comment on the specifics of the case, but said that his office found no merit in Mitrovic's complaint after an investigation. "We denied [the University's negligence] before, so I don't think now the situation has changed," said Jasner. Mitrovic's lawyer refused to comment on his client's case, and according to Jasner, the University's outside counsel is in the process of being selected. No date for arbitration has been set. --John MacNeil