Eren Hussein, 52 years old, wanted to sue a club after she fell down its stairs. A judge, however, is not buying any of her plea, the Metro reports.
Judge Heather Baucher QC said that Hussein fell down the stairs because she was drunk and clumsy. The judge also said that Hussein’s weight was a major contribution to her fall. Hussein was also reportedly wearing high platform heels.
The incident happened at Ronnie Scott’s, a famous club in Soho, in 2012. Inside the club, she fell down the stairs, went around a corner and fell down for another flight before ultimately breaking her wrist and elbow.
Hussein attempted to sue the place and claim thousands in damages. However, the club had proven to be innocent and they won’t be responsible for her fall. She wasn’t even holding on to the banister when she was going down.
Judge Baucher said, “In her inebriated, obese state on three-inch platforms, that would be an obvious, simple step for anyone presented with what they saw as a hazard.”
Hussein told the judge, “It was dark, it was dim and I didn’t see my step as I was going down. I tumbled over and over and over and I injured myself very badly. I recall landing on my neck and the back of my head as well.”
Baucher said, “Mrs Hussein, at 115kg, must have taken up much of the width of the stairway, but for some inexplicable reason, she did not use the handrail.”
Hussein claimed that she only had a glass and a half of champagne plus a glass of red wine. She claimed it wasn’t enough to make her tipsy.
Catherine Foster, the club’s barrister, emphasized the medical records that they obtained from the hospital. When Hussein arrived, she was described by doctors as “obviously drunk” and “intoxicated.”
In her ruling, Judge Baucher found Hussen was heavily under the influence of alcohol. The judge said, “I find that the notes in the hospital records referred to her being intoxicated because she was so.”
The judge continued, “In ordinary circumstances, she, like countless others, would have descended the staircase and gone home.
“However, on that evening, whether due to one or more of the factors – painkillers, weight, shoes, drink – she simply missed her footing. I find she did so through no fault on the part of Ronnie Scott’s.”
After investigating the area of the fall, they found no fault with the lighting and with the stairs. Therefore, Ronni Scott’s management are free from conviction.
