A slip-and-fall suit is moving forward against a rental tools and equipment company after a federal judge in Pennsylvania determined questions remained regarding whether the rental company could have anticipated the plaintiff's fall.

In a Dec. 13 decision, U.S. District Judge William S. Stickman IV of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied defendant Sunbelt Rental's motion for summary judgment. The court concluded a jury would have to determine whether the injured party, Randall Neyman, was expected to come in contact with the slippery ramp and whether Sunbelt could have anticipated the harm that occurred. The parties disputed whether Neyman was expected to play a role in unloading the trailer.