Woman sues after walking into glass door
By TONY BLAIS, Court Bureau
Last Updated: January 7, 2011 9:23pm
An Edmonton woman is suing a downtown clothing store for $175,000 after alleging she was severely injured when she walked into a closed sliding glass entrance door.
In a statement of claim filed Dec. 15 in Court of Queen’s Bench, Nora Stovel alleges she was trying to go into Blu’s Womens Wear from the second-floor lobby of Manulife Place, 10180 101 St., when she collided with a clear glass panel of one of the sliding units leading into the store.
Stovel claims she suffered “severe” injuries from the Dec. 20, 2008, collision and subsequent fall onto the hard tile floor, including a laceration to the right side of her head that needed several stitches and left a permanent scar.
Stovel also claims she suffered contusions to the right side of her face, a right shoulder strain that resulted in bursitis and frozen shoulder syndrome, a fracture of her left femur and multiple contusions.
As a result of her alleged injuries, Stovel says she incurred medical expenses for physiotherapy, massage therapy and the costs of a gym membership.
She also says she had to pay $13,650 to have a bathroom built on the main floor of her house.
Stovel is also seeking damages for allegedly requiring assistance from family members for her personal care after being discharged from hospital, including the performance of housekeeping and yard and home maintenance tasks, and a loss of income.
According to the statement of claim – which also names as defendants the store manager and the owners and property managers of the premises – Stovel alleges her collision and fall were caused by the defendants’ failure to take reasonable care she would be safe using the premises.
Stovel claims that includes failing to ensure the lighting in the store and lobby area was sufficient for members of the public to see the plate glass when the sliding door units were closed and that there were visible markings on the glass at eye level to enhance visibility.
She also claims the store and store manager were negligent for allowing the sliding glass doors to be closed when the store’s interior lights were still on and customers were still inside and visible to people approaching.
A statement of defence has not yet been filed.
Statements of claim and statements of defence contain allegations which have not been proven in court.
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