$110,000.00 (1998) Elevator accident. An elevator repair company
negligently maintained an elevator, which sometimes, would not function
properly.
The victim was a career Chef who worked for an entertainment
complex which required him to cook on one floor and to deliver the food
on a cart by an elevator to another floor. In order to prevent the
prepared food from falling off the cart, it was necessary for the Chef
to pull the car into (and out off) the elevator. The elevator repair
company had a contract to service and maintain the elevator.
In accordance with its contract, the service company serviced the
elevator. Shortly thereafter, the Chef backed into the elevator with
his cart as the elevator door opened. Unfortunately, due to a
malfunction, the elevator had stopped approximately one foot short of
floor level. As a result, the Chef fell backwards into the elevator and
was seriously injured. The insurance company of the repair company
blamed the Chef for not noticing that the elevator it serviced and
maintained had malfunctioned.
