An undisclosed settlement of compensation for a slip on a wet step has been agreed midway through a hearing at the High Court.
The compensation claim for a slip on a wet step was brought by William Busteed from Cork City, who was leaving his council-owned property on May 9th 2009 to get into a taxi for the airport to catch a flight to Majorca.
As he started to descend the stairway in his six apartment complex, William slipped on a wet step and fell to the bottom of the stairs – sustaining injuries to his face and shoulder and fracturing his left arm. The taxi waiting to take William to the airport instead took him to Cork University Hospital, where William was treated.
Fifty-nine year old William made a claim for injury compensation for a slip on a wet step against his landlords – Cork City Council – alleging that the council had failed to attend to a faulty smoke alarm which caused vents above the stairway to open and allow the rain to enter. The council denied its liability, and William was given an authorisation to take his claim to court.
At the High Court, Mr Justice Daniel Herbert heard Cork City Council argue that it was not to blame for William´s injuries as they had attended each of his complaints in the past in good time. The council´s legal representative produced William´s medical records at the time of his admission to Cork University Hospital which showed alcohol and cannabis in his blood and prompted defence counsel to claim William was intoxicated, and that was the reason for his slip.
William denied that he had been drunk on the day in question, and told the Judge that he had only drunk two small bottles of beer that day because he was aware that airlines could refuse boarding to passengers who were drunk. He also claimed that he had never smoked cannabis prior to his accident and that the entry in the medical record must be a mistake. William´s solicitor said he was prepared to call the author of the report if necessary.
Mr Justice Daniel Herbert adjourned proceedings at the end of day one, to be continued the following morning. However, before the hearing could start on day two, Judge Herbert was informed that William had agreed to a settlement of compensation for a slip on a wet step and that the case could be struck out.