A retired teacher was killed when a decaying 45-foot wooden utility pole toppled onto a track at Roxborough High School on December 5, 2024, according to a lawsuit filed by her family.
Paula Budin, 73, was walking on the school's athletic complex when the pole snapped at its base and struck her. A passerby found Budin bleeding and unresponsive, and paramedics were unable to revive her. The lawsuit states she died of blunt force trauma injuries.
The family's legal action names the Philadelphia School District and Parsons Corporation, which was hired to assess the district's facilities, as defendants. The suit alleges that both entities failed to maintain or inspect the pole, which had shown visible signs of decay for over a decade.
Court papers indicate that the deterioration of the pole was apparent as far back as 2014. The lawsuit claims that despite this knowledge, neither the school district nor Parsons Corporation took corrective action or warned the community of the potential danger.
The athletic complex, where the pole was located, was generally open to the public. The lawsuit details that the pole was situated near a debris-filled storm drain, which caused standing water to saturate the wood, contributing to its rot and severe decay.
Following Budin's death, the school district removed the three other similar poles that were part of the complex's lighting and security camera system. A subsequent investigation conducted by the district's legal team and experts reportedly found that these poles had not been inspected prior to the incident.
Budin, a retired educator who previously taught at Germantown Academy and the Community Partnership School, was described as having an active lifestyle. Her family is seeking financial damages for alleged negligence.
A spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia stated that while they cannot comment on pending litigation, they recognize the tragedy of Ms. Budin's death. The Parsons Corporation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.