FALL IN TEA ROOMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21993, 30 June 1933, Page 9

FALL IN TEA ROOMS

MANAGERESS INJURED HEAVY CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 29. Damages totalling £3265 16s are being claimed by Gertrude Laura Cresswell in an action that was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day against the Dominion Farmers’ Institute, Ltd. It arises out of an accident which befell the plaintiff when acting as manageress of the defendant’s tea rooms. Mr Justice Ostler is on the bench. According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff was passing through the doorway leading to the cooking room when, owing to the defective condition of the premises, she fell down some steep wooden steps, which led to ,the ladies’ cloak room. It was contended on various grounds by the'plaintiff that the steps were dangerous. She received severe injuries to her head and body, and suffered severely from shock, concussion, acute and permanent neurasthenia. In consequence she was incapacitated from working. She claimed special damages- amounting to £385 16s, and £2BBO as general damages. The defence was a general denial that the premises were dangerous and unsafe; and that if they were the plaintiff was responsible, for when the tea rooms were being designed and constructed, the defendant company consulted and deferred to the advice of the plaintiff. Further, it was stated that if the premises were dangerous, which was denied, the danger was known to the plaintiff, and could have been avoided by the exercise of reasonable care, and the accident was solely attributable to the negligence of the plaintiff. The court inspected the scene of the accident, after which expert evidence was given by architects and builders regarding the construction of the premises. , The hearing will be continued to-mor-row.