Woman compensated R2 million for slipping on a chip

59-year-old Roxanne Britton rocked up at the Zouki Café at the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia, back in 2015 to buy herself some lunch. However, when leaving the café, she slipped and fell on a hot chip and injured herself in the process. As a result, Roxanne suffered a lower back injury, including two prolapsed discs and pain in her leg, foot and knee. Roxanne also claims that she suffered a degree of mental issues such as depression and anxiety from the fall.

Roxanne lodged a claim with WorkSafe – her worker’s safety and compensation body which paid her out over R2 million in damages. Now, WorkSafe is looking to claim the money back from the guilty party which they believe is responsible for the damages – the Zouki Café owned by Flinders Group.

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WorkSafe says that Flinders failed to implement a system to keep the floor clean and created a slipping hazard while failing to properly manage foot traffic. The body adds that Flinders failed to give customers a safe entry and exit point.

According to court documents lodged by the Victorian WorkCover Authority, Roxanne endured serious injuries and pain as well as a severe financial loss, which affected her work, and eventually could not work at all. The documents add that Roxanne has not been able to work since.

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“As a result of the accident, the plaintiff was injured and will continue to suffer loss and damage,” the claim alleges.

Flinders, however, deny all the allegations against them saying that the incident was not caused by their own negligence but rather by Roxanne’s own negligence in allowing herself to fall, adding that she should take responsibility for her actions.

The case is set to resume on 2 September. 

Image courtesy: Pixabay