A commuter’s serious injury at a Yonkers train station in 2021 might be linked to inadequate safety inspections by MTA officials, according to her attorney.
Mara Jill Leibler experienced a severe fall at Metro-North’s Greystone Station, where she tripped and broke her hand, while also injuring her face. Her lawyer claimed the risks could have persisted due to MTA inspectors submitting incorrect safety reports, failing to perform the necessary evaluations.
“She just faces forward and flies into the concrete,” Robert Mena from the Greenberg law firm explained. “She put her hand out to catch herself, and it broke her hand and hit her in the face.”
Mena noted that Leibler fell in April 2021, unable to see the 5-inch gap between the train and the platform caused by a decline in a section of track.
The incident resulted in several broken teeth and blood on her clothes. Leibler needed extensive dental procedures for a shattered tooth, and she also suffered facial injuries that left her with swelling and limited vision in one eye, her attorney said.
Additionally, Mena reported that Leibler underwent surgery to repair her broken hand.
“There were no reported issues in their records, and investigators were sent to the site multiple times, yet the dangerous conditions remained evident,” Mena stated. “The bottom line is they haven’t documented any hazards for several years.”
An MTA representative addressed the situation, asserting that safety remains a “top priority” for Metro-North and that efforts to enhance safety are ongoing.
In 2022, Mena filed a lawsuit alleging MTA inspectors overlooked subsidence and increasing gaps in the tracks. The suit claims the agency’s inspection records did not mention the apparent dangers visible to anyone on the platform.
The spokesperson added that Metro-North denies any wrongdoing and plans to defend itself against the claims.
Mena suspects that the inspection records reflect the same kind of fraudulent documentation revealed in a Post investigation, which uncovered that MTA inspectors had skipped inspections and falsified reports while neglecting their duties.
“All records indicate there’s nothing wrong, and that it passed inspection,” Mena remarked. “We always wondered how these records could be accurate when the issues were obvious. The Post article made us realize they were likely fabricating reports without proper inspections.”
Mena’s expert witness, a former MTA inspector, plans to testify at trial that it seems “impossible” for the inspection report on Greystone Station to be accurate, given ongoing site visits that indicate the problem remains.
“These employees are there to ensure passenger safety, yet they seem to be ignoring that responsibility,” Mena said. “Had they done their jobs and accurately reported what was occurring, this would not have transpired.”
A judge is set to schedule a trial date for 2026 on November 5. Mena noted that his request for a $950,000 settlement was rejected. A court arbitrator suggested a $450,000 settlement, but Metro-North “didn’t come close to that figure,” Mena added.
The MTA has identified two employees accused of improperly handling train inspections: mechanic George Desmond, who was terminated following a hearing on October 13, 2025, and inspector Ibn Jenkins, who is currently suspended without pay and is facing disciplinary action, with future proceedings dependent on his union contract regulations.
