US man sues for R13m after fall

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'Pretoria - An American man is claiming R12.6m from the Monateng Safari Lodge outside Pretoria after he fell on a wet stoep.

Michael Francis Klesh, 55, a marketing specialist, says in his court documents that he fractured a vertebra and broke his left wrist. He was supposedly in shock for three to four months.

He is claiming R12 627 650 from Monateng after he fell outside his accommodation unit on the afternoon of January 19 2008.

Klesh alleges there wasn't sufficient protection from rain water on the stoep and that there was no warning that the tiles might be slippery or dangerous when they're wet.

Indemnity

Morris Baslian, Klesh's legal representative, said Klesh and the defendant reached a verbal agreement when Klesh booked his accommodation by phone on January 10 2008.

When he arrived on January 14, he was given a piece of paper to sign "which is at best an offer and not a contract".

The receptionist said the document was a "mere formality".

Baslian said the defendant is relying on the indemnity clause in that document, which was not a condition of the original agreement (when Klesh made his booking).

The indemnity clause is also "hidden" in the document.

At the bottom of the document the signatory agrees to abide by Monateng's rules and regulations, and gives consent for their vehicle to be searched.

Baslian said the indemnity clause should have been pointed out to the signatory.

Since the receptionist said the document is merely a formality, Klesh had no reason to suspect or believe that it would contain any conditions.

'Extraordinary' rain storm

Tall Potgieter, legal representative for Monateng, said the stoep has a roof. Klesh testified that there had been an "extraordinary" rain storm.

This does not mean the defendant was negligent, said Potgieter.

Potgieter said it would be "ridiculous" to explain terms and conditions when a booking is done over the phone. That's not how things work in the commercial world.

The final contract is signed when a person reaches their destination.

In Klesh's own version, he knew he couldn't stay there if he didn't sign the document containing the indemnity clause. He knew the "formality" was actually an indemnity form.

There is no obligation to point out such a clause, said Potgieter.

Tiles

In his testimony, Klesh did not say there was anything wrong with the tiles.

Acting Judge Sulette Potterill said that with regard to the rain storm, the law states "one does not have to warn against something out of the ordinary".

Baslian said the defendant should have ensured the tiles were "non-slippery".

Potterill will hand down judgment on Monday.

- Beeld'

http://www.news24.com/Content/South...03-2010-07-42/US_man_sues_for_R13m_after_fall

Lol ...shouldn't you know that tiles get slippery when wet? Please please also explain why R13 Mill???
 
haha, good luck - maybe in the states where the outcome is decided by a bunch of ignorant yack jurors he could get away with it, but I cant see it getting too far here
 
*****ing opportunist. :mad:

EDIT: Now, I always wonder, if you're a legal representative of such an idiot, how does it reflect on you? :confused:
 
I swear we are making them dumber and dumber by the day. Common sense will tell you anything is slippery when wet.
Anyway how are you SHOCKED for three months after a fall? Stupid Wus
 
EDIT: Now, I always wonder, if you're a legal representative of such an idiot, how does it reflect on you? :confused:

An attorney is not responsible for the morals - or lack thereof - of her clients. She simply represents a client to the best of her abililty.
 
Didn't anyone tell him we don't have punitive damages here in SA. The most he can hope for is hospital bills & some change, that's assuming there wasn't the usual "Walk on the slippery tiles at your own risk" signs that everyone plasters everywhere.
 
LOL... fat chance. Actually... if he is American I wonder how fat he is? (and I say that as a fatty myself) :p
 
LOL! This aint the States buddy. We don't need warnings here to tell us that a floor might be slippery. We live a little more wildly than that, take a risk, see that there is water on a tile, guess what? it's going to be slippery!

I don't think the courts here will pay him any respect. His mistake.
 
EDIT: Now, I always wonder, if you're a legal representative of such an idiot, how does it reflect on you? :confused:

It does not, it's a lawyer,nothing can reflect badly on sch!t. They are just there for the money.
 
America, home of the inbred. Surely the American education system teaches its people that stuff gets slippery when wet?

HAHA, he is going to get owned by our justice system. Its not designed to cater for idiots like him.
 
An attorney is not responsible for the morals - or lack thereof - of her clients. She simply represents a client to the best of her abililty.
You mean she represents her client to the best of the client's ability to keep paying no matter the likely outcome:D
 
LOL yeah good luck with that! In the states it has become the "norm" to sue for every single thing - here in SA we you wait years to look into a murder... A good whippin' might clear his mind!

One of my friends is a laywer, and told me that couple of years back a "ladder laywer" from the US came to S'bosch and did a presentation. The laywer worked for a company that builds ladders - and his fulltime job (and apparently very decent salary) was to DEFEND the company (that builds ladders) against people suing them after they fall off the ladder... FFS!
 
Any wonder why healthcare costs so much in the US. You should see the malpractice insurance the DRs have to carry because of pricks like this.
 
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