Mr. Le Clercq obtained a personal injury defense win in a lawsuit brought by a plaintiff who slipped and fell during the course of her job. The plaintiff, Amanda Sharpe, alleged she sustained several herniated discs and $35,000 in medical expenses when she slipped down the stairs of a house she was cleaning. The plaintiff alleged the homeowner told her to use Pledge on the stairs despite the plaintiff advising the homeowner it was unsafe, and that the plaintiff did as she was told for fear of the homeowner discontinuing her services. After several months of applying Pledge, the plaintiff slipped on the wooden stairs. Deutsch Kerrigan argued that the hazard, if any, was caused by the plaintiff and created an open and obvious condition which the plaintiff knew about. The Court agreed and granted a summary judgment in favor of the defense.
Amanda Sharpe v. Occidental Fire & Casualty Company of North Carolina.