Business Not Liable For 'Faulty' Waiting Room Chair
by
Joseph C. Maya on May. 03, 2017
Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Personal Injury Business
Summary: Blog post about the liability of a business for the injury of a customer that happened when a waiting room chair collapsed.
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Plaintiff business invitee filed suit against defendant business, alleging injuries from a defective chair in the business's waiting room. After the jury returned a verdict in favor of the invitee, consideration was given to the motion for directed verdict made by the business at the close of the invitee's case.
The invitee, who weighed approximately 350 pounds, brought his car to the business for service. He had been sitting in a chair in the waiting room for about 15 minutes when the chair collapsed. The court directed a verdict in favor of the business, ruling that the jury's verdict could only have been based upon conjecture and speculation as to any constructive notice the business might have had about a defective condition in the chair. The only evidence on that point was the invitee's testimony that he observed a screw or nut on the floor after the chair collapsed. While screws and nuts might loosen over time, there was no evidence about the construction of the chair or where the screw or nut might have been located prior to the incident. There was no evidence that any of the parts seen by the invitee were vital to the support of the chair. As the invitee failed to carry his burden of establishing constructive notice, judgment in favor of the business was required. The trial court directed a verdict in favor of the business, with judgment to enter accordingly.
At Maya Murphy, P.C., our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to achieving the best results for individuals and their family members and loved ones whose daily lives have been disrupted by injury, whether caused by a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, a slip and fall, medical malpractice, a defective product, or otherwise. Our attorneys are not afraid to aggressively pursue and litigate cases and have extensive experience litigating personal injury matters in both state and federal courts, and always with regard to the unique circumstances of our client and the injury he or she has sustained.
Source: Wilson v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 2007 Conn. Super. LEXIS 668, 2007 WL 901844 (Conn. Super. Ct. Mar. 9, 2007)