Case Summary

CASE SUMMARY 

The client, Missy Step suffered injury when she stepped off a temporary stage that was set up at Stage Fright Church (the "Church") for an annual party called "Pardi Gras." Pardi Gras roughly coincides with Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a celebration of the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent. 

On January 24 of last year, the Plaintiff (who was - and still is - a member of the Church) was helping set up for Pardi Gras.   She was 60 years old at the time.  The temporary stage had been set up for the party and Missy Step was on the stage helping to put balloons up on the wall behind the stage.  Fellow volunteer Lucinda Moles was on the floor handing balloons to Mrs. Step.  As Mrs. Step walked toward Mrs. Moles to get a balloon, she stepped off the edge of the stage, landing hard on her right leg and allegedly injuring her right leg and hip.

Plaintiff believes she fell off of the stage because both the stage and the carpet below the stage were brown.  She was not exactly sure where she fell off of the stage.  As can be seen in the photographs, the stage has a tile pattern with light brown tiles and dark brown edges.  Approximately half of the stage would have been over dark-colored flooring.

Immediately following the fall, Mrs. Step  says she sat down and felt a burning pain, but she thought it would go away.  The following day, Mrs. Step  sought the treatment of an acupuncturist.  She also visited a chiropractor shortly after the fall who performed x-rays which indicated arthritis in the injured area.  She was put on medication for the arthritis but her primary care physician did not want her on that particular medication so she was referred to a pain clinic and physical therapy.  According to Mrs. Step, nothing has helped. 

Mrs. Step is not certain but believes that approximately five years ago, the Church purchased a temporary stage on eBay.  The stage is stored in several large pieces which are assembled when used.  When assembled, the stage sits approximately 16 inches above the ground.  It is not known if any other person has been injured on or near the stage.

Below are images taken near the time of the injury.