Lawyers for a New Jersey man left incapacitated when he was thrown from his sulky during a harness race in Pennsylvania will be allowed on the property to inspect track conditions and gather evidence.
Anthony Coletta suffered permanent brain damage and other serious injuries during a November race at Harrah's Philadelphia in Chester, Pa., just south of Philadelphia. He is living in a rehabilitation facility.
State regulators have suspended harness racing at the track, saying Harrah's failed to resolve problems with the surface. Drivers have complained about the track's condition.
The racing season is set to resume on March 8 and repairs would need to be made before then.
Coletta's attorneys wanted access to the track before Harrah's makes repairs ordered by the state. They took Harrah's to court on Thursday to get that access. Coletta intends to sue Harrah's over the crash.
Family lawyer Michael Barrett says a judge Thursday gave his firm until Feb. 21 to inspect the track. He says Harrah's did not object to the motion.
Larry Kelly, a lawyer for Harrah's, declined comment on the case.
