An accountant who split her chin in a fall on stairs in a client's office has been awarded £17,000 damages in the Circuit Court. Judge Desmond Hogan heard that Ms Janice LauBurke (39), of Mornington Mews, Wellington Lane, Ballsbridge, Dublin, had fallen on steel stairs more suited to industrial than office use.
Mr Michael Byrne, counsel for Ms Lau-Burke, said that she had been at the offices of Pat O'Donnell and Co Ltd, Richmond Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, carrying out an annual audit, and had fallen on the stairs leading to the basement office canteen.
Judge Hogan said he had no doubt that the stairway was unsuitable for office use and might even cause problems in an industrial setting.