A retired elementary school teacher tragically lost her life after being struck by a decaying 45-foot wooden pole at a Philadelphia high school, prompting her family to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Paula Budin, 73, was walking on the public track at Roxborough High School on December 5, 2024, when the pole suddenly snapped and fell, according to a civil complaint filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Allegations of Negligence in Fatal Accident
The lawsuit, initiated by Budin’s sister, Joyce Siegel, names the School District of Philadelphia and Parsons Corporation, a company hired for facility inspections, as defendants. The complaint alleges that the school district’s negligence and failure to properly maintain the premises directly led to Budin’s death. According to the suit, the wooden pole, manufactured in 1997, was severely deteriorated due to stormwater runoff from a nearby drain, causing it to weaken and eventually break.
Witnesses reported seeing Budin unresponsive on the grass shortly after 11 a.m. Paramedics arrived at the scene and found her bleeding from the back of her head. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, she was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital approximately one hour later. An autopsy later determined her cause of death to be multiple blunt force injuries, with the incident officially ruled an accident.
Evidence of Decay and Lack of Maintenance
Attorneys representing Budin’s family claim that an inspection of the four poles at the track revealed the fatal pole had no inspection tags, suggesting it had never been properly assessed or maintained by the school district. The lawsuit asserts that the base of the pole was situated close to a storm drain, and consistent exposure to runoff water had caused significant decay. Lawyers described the pole as “almost completely rotted” at the point where it snapped.
Furthermore, the legal filing contends that the School District of Philadelphia was aware, or should have been aware, of the pole’s dangerous condition. The lawsuit alleges that visible signs of decay were present as early as 2014. Despite this knowledge and the recognized risk of severe harm, the district allegedly failed to take any corrective actions or warn students and the public about the potential hazard.
Role of Parsons Corporation in Inspection Failures
The lawsuit also targets Parsons Corporation, which conducted an inspection of Roxborough High School and its track facilities in 2015, delivering a comprehensive review two years later. However, the complaint states that Parsons repeatedly failed to adequately inspect the specific poles on the property, including the one that ultimately caused Budin’s death. Images included in the lawsuit reportedly show the proximity of the pole to a drainage inlet, illustrating the potential for water damage.
Both the School District of Philadelphia and Parsons Corporation are accused of negligence and wrongful death. The suit also names four “John Does” as defendants, as the identities of the individuals who installed the pole and the drain remain unclear.
Paula Budin: A Cherished Educator
The family is seeking compensatory damages and a jury trial. Budin is remembered as an individual who “enjoyed an active lifestyle.” Before her retirement, she dedicated her career to teaching elementary school students at the Community Partnership School. Her family hopes this lawsuit will hold those responsible accountable for her untimely death.
The defendants have not yet formally responded to the complaint. Following Budin’s death, her sister’s lawyers noted that the school district subsequently removed all similar poles from the track area.
