Felicity Huffman, known for her work on the TV show “Desperate Housewives,” and her actor husband William H. Macy have been sued by a woman because of an alleged slip and fall injury that she sustained while in the famous couple’s home. The victim claims that she slipped because there was a dangerous condition on the couple’s staircase.
The complaint sites that the staircase that caused the accident was dirty and poorly maintained. The complaint also alleges that Huffman and Macy should have known of the existence of the dangerous conditions present that caused the victim to suffer her injury. The victim claims that she sustained a serious injury and she is suing in excess of $25,000 to cover her lost wages, medical expenses and other damages.
Many premises liability cases happen in businesses, such as when a customer sustains a parking lot fall or a serious injury due to a slip and fall caused by uneven pavement. However, when an injury occurs at a person’s private residence, such as in the Huffman and Macy case, the property owner can be held liable for damages that result due to a known dangerous condition that the property owner failed to communicate to the victim.
For example, if a property owner knows that a step wobbles or there is an icy sidewalk toward the property’s entrance, the property owner usually has the duty to warn the victim of this dangerous condition if the visitor is legally on the property. An injured person might be able to recover damages if he or she has been injured as a result of a property owner’s negligence.
Source: Daily Mail, “Felicity Huffman and Bill Macy sued for $25,000 by woman who fell down their stairs,” Aug. 16, 2012