It has been reported that a lawyer representing injured driver Anthony Coletta and his family has been granted access to inspect the track at Harrah's Philadelphia as part of an evidence-gathering process for a possible lawsuit.
An article which appears on the website of the Daily Journal states that on Thursday (Jan. 30) a Philadelphia judge granted the firm of the Colettas’ lawyer, Michael Barrett, the right to inspect the racecourse at Harrah's until February 21. The report states that Harrah's did not object to the motion
A report which had appeared earlier in the day on the website of The Republic stated that Harrah’s had previously declined requests from Barrett to inspect the track.
Coletta was injured in a racing accident at the track last November.
Barrett released a statement prior to Thursday's hearing in which he said, "We need to know if the track was being maintained following best industry practices, because its troubled history would indicate otherwise. If this was an accident waiting to happen, then Mr. Coletta, his family and every other driver deserve to know why they've been put in harm's way."
The Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission announced last week that the 2014 harness racing season at Harrah's Philadelphia has been suspended pending required information on racetrack surface issues.
(With files from the Daily Journal and The Republic)