Diplomatic immunity does not protect Romania's mission to the United Nations from having to repair a hole in the sidewalk in front of its property, a Manhattan state judge has ruled, leaving the central European nation potentially liable to a woman who tripped on the hole and injured herself.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lucy Billings (See Profile) ruled on Sept. 9 in Weason v. Permanent Mission of Romania to the UN, 113830/10, that diplomatic immunity does not apply because the mission committed a tortious act by deciding, after consulting with the Romanian government, not to repair the hole even after being served a notice of violation by New York City.
