Daughter sues grandmother for dropping baby when she fell down stairs

**WillowSun** · 05-28-12 at 10:10 PM

Just heard she won.

Note the cross-sue case. Sounds to me like the family have worked out how to get compo out of gran's public liability insurance and the holiday home owner/builder's insurance, to pay for the poor kids nursing for the rest of her life I'd say.

Quote:

A WOMAN who fell down stairs while clutching her five-month-old granddaughter is being sued by her own family, who claim her negligence left the baby girl with "traumatic" head injuries.

Molly Boland, now aged four, was left "severely disabled" by the January 2006 accident while she, her parents, grandmother Hannelore Hoffmann and other family were at a holiday cottage in Smiths Lake, near Forster, in NSW north coast.

Molly's father Jason Boland, supported by his wife Susan, is suing his mother-in-law on behalf of his daughter for hundreds of thousand of dollars in damages.

Late last year, Mrs Hoffmann - who rejects any negligence on her part - launched a cross-claim against key parties involved in $400,000 renovations to the holiday home. Molly's parents have since joined that cross-claim.

It alleges the builder, joiners, architect and home owners were negligent, with Mrs Hoffmann's fall being caused by a number of factors including the smooth surface, the absence of "nosings" or non-slip resistance, the presence of winders - wedge or triangle-shaped stairs - and the absence of a handrail for part of the descent.

he court heard Mrs Hoffmann fell about 5.30am on January 25, 2006, with only dawn light and a nearby light from Mrs Boland's room illuminating the staircase.

In a tendered statement Mrs Hoffmann said: "As I fell I clutched Molly even more tightly against me ... I did not drop her ... but on impact my arms flew open and Molly kept going, striking her head on the door frame behind us."

Code: Select All

http://www.news.com.au/national/parents-sue-grandmother-hannelore-hoffmann-after-baby-hurt-in-tumble-down-stairs/story-e6frfkvr-122604953075

Adanaliyik · 05-28-12 at 10:47 PM

I thought America was the Land of Stupid Lawsuits, not Australia....

:)

magerlad · 05-28-12 at 10:55 PM

Life is full of greediness.......... No wonder this world is so f***ed up.

**acdc137** · 05-28-12 at 10:58 PM

Hey. The source page can't be found. Anyways, there are too many flaws in the story. I don't see how the builder, joiner, or architect would be classified negligent unless he or she didn't follow building codes, which case, it would have to be the building inspector's fault. And 400,000 is way too much for stair renovations in a cottage (Most cottages I've seen don't have stairs except for a few steps for the front porch or going to the attic or possibly basement but why would someone carry a baby to such places). But the fact is you have to have homeowners insurance no matter what or you are liable. Poor child, though.

**WillowSun** · 05-29-12 at 05:07 AM

strange as if u google the title, it comes up.

and good point - but its possible the house was renovated without a DA, hence no inspection

Gaikokujin1 · 05-29-12 at 06:31 AM

Grandma had to go downstairs. They do the darnest things...

Shuy · 05-29-12 at 04:34 PM

They should sue the baby for reckless endangerment to itself.

Jumping out of the grandmas arms like that. How shameful.

**Gandolph13** · 05-29-12 at 05:45 PM

I wonder if grandma was wearing thongs?
I slipped on wet concrete stairs while carrying a young ladies son many years ago. I pulled the baby into my chest and rode down the concrete stairs on my back. The mother was with me and she saw her baby was fine and was more concerned for me. I've never worn thongs since.

News people,, we call flip flops (what a stupid bloody name for footwear) thongs in Australia, not anal floss underwear, that's a G-string and the G-man DON'T wear that crap!

**Noledox** · 05-29-12 at 11:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Gandolph13

I wonder if grandma was wearing thongs?
I slipped on wet concrete stairs while carrying a young ladies son many years ago. I pulled the baby into my chest and rode down the concrete stairs on my back. The mother was with me and she saw her baby was fine and was more concerned for me. I've never worn thongs since.

News people,, we call flip flops (what a stupid bloody name for footwear) thongs in Australia, not anal floss underwear, that's a G-string and the G-man DON'T wear that crap!

This is why I just call them sandals. (the flop-flop thongs, not the other kind)

**nekkron** · 05-30-12 at 04:09 AM

They can't be sandals, little difference in them but sandals need a strap which hold the foot or something, thongs are an open type of footwear where the foot is loose.

Adanaliyik · 05-30-12 at 04:20 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Gandolph13

News people,, we call flip flops (what a stupid bloody name for footwear) thongs in Australia, not anal floss underwear.

They are called Flip-Flops because that's what the cheap one's do on your feet. They are constantly flipping away from your feet as you raise them to take a step forward, then flopping back as you as you set your feet down. And, they make a slapping sound when you are walking, which adds to the reason for the name.

Thong sandals, are just that, sandals made out of leather thongs. The things called flip-flops are cheap plastic and rubber, and therefore don't rate the name.

And, I don't care if those string type bathing suits do carry your name in Australia, and that you're trying to advertise. You say the word thong to me, and I'll still think of anal floss...

:)

**rockyrocks** · 05-30-12 at 04:21 AM

Slippers.. thats what they are called :P

**bookdragon** · 05-30-12 at 05:14 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rockyrocks

Slippers.. thats what they are called :P

Nope. Slippers are house shoes.

slip·per/ˈslipər/
Noun:

A comfortable slip-on shoe worn indoors.
A light slip-on shoe, esp. one used for dancing.

thong (thông, thng)
n.
1. A narrow strip, as of leather, used for binding or lashing.
2. A whip of plaited leather or cord.
3. A sandal held on the foot by a strip that fits between the first and second toes and is connected to a strap usually passing over the top or around the sides of the foot.
4. A garment for the lower body that exposes the buttocks, consisting of a narrow strip of fabric that passes between the thighs supported by a waistband.

flip-flop (flpflp)
n.
1. The movement or sound of repeated flapping.
2. Informal A reversal, as of a stand or position: a foreign policy flip-flop.
3. A backless, often foam rubber sandal held to the foot at the big toe by means of a thong.
4. A backward somersault or handspring.
5. Electronics An electronic circuit or mechanical device capable of assuming either of two stable states, especially a computer circuit used to store a single bit of information.

Leather Thongs
Plastic/Foam Flip Flops

Adanaliyik · 05-30-12 at 05:24 AM

Thanks for the professional backing...

:)

05-28-12 at 10:47 PM	#2
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	I thought America was the Land of Stupid Lawsuits, not Australia.... :)

05-28-12 at 10:55 PM	#3
magerlad Newcomer Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 96	Life is full of greediness.......... No wonder this world is so f***ed up.

05-28-12 at 10:58 PM	#4
acdc137 Done Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 691	Hey. The source page can't be found. Anyways, there are too many flaws in the story. I don't see how the builder, joiner, or architect would be classified negligent unless he or she didn't follow building codes, which case, it would have to be the building inspector's fault. And 400,000 is way too much for stair renovations in a cottage (Most cottages I've seen don't have stairs except for a few steps for the front porch or going to the attic or possibly basement but why would someone carry a baby to such places). But the fact is you have to have homeowners insurance no matter what or you are liable. Poor child, though.

05-29-12 at 05:07 AM	#5
WillowSun Therianthrope Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,015	strange as if u google the title, it comes up. and good point - but its possible the house was renovated without a DA, hence no inspection

05-29-12 at 06:31 AM	#6
Gaikokujin1 Newcomer Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 91	Grandma had to go downstairs. They do the darnest things...

05-29-12 at 04:34 PM	#7
Shuy Newcomer Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 50	They should sue the baby for reckless endangerment to itself. Jumping out of the grandmas arms like that. How shameful.

05-29-12 at 05:45 PM	#8
Gandolph13 Legendary Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia (GMT+10) Posts: 12,306	I wonder if grandma was wearing thongs? I slipped on wet concrete stairs while carrying a young ladies son many years ago. I pulled the baby into my chest and rode down the concrete stairs on my back. The mother was with me and she saw her baby was fine and was more concerned for me. I've never worn thongs since. News people,, we call flip flops (what a stupid bloody name for footwear) thongs in Australia, not anal floss underwear, that's a G-string and the G-man DON'T wear that crap!

05-29-12 at 11:35 PM	#9
Noledox Bad command or file name Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Terra Incognita Posts: 2,709	Quote: Originally Posted by Gandolph13 I wonder if grandma was wearing thongs? I slipped on wet concrete stairs while carrying a young ladies son many years ago. I pulled the baby into my chest and rode down the concrete stairs on my back. The mother was with me and she saw her baby was fine and was more concerned for me. I've never worn thongs since. News people,, we call flip flops (what a stupid bloody name for footwear) thongs in Australia, not anal floss underwear, that's a G-string and the G-man DON'T wear that crap! This is why I just call them sandals. (the flop-flop thongs, not the other kind)

05-30-12 at 04:09 AM	#10
nekkron Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 406	They can't be sandals, little difference in them but sandals need a strap which hold the foot or something, thongs are an open type of footwear where the foot is loose.

05-30-12 at 04:20 AM	#11
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	Quote: Originally Posted by Gandolph13 News people,, we call flip flops (what a stupid bloody name for footwear) thongs in Australia, not anal floss underwear. They are called Flip-Flops because that's what the cheap one's do on your feet. They are constantly flipping away from your feet as you raise them to take a step forward, then flopping back as you as you set your feet down. And, they make a slapping sound when you are walking, which adds to the reason for the name. Thong sandals, are just that, sandals made out of leather thongs. The things called flip-flops are cheap plastic and rubber, and therefore don't rate the name. And, I don't care if those string type bathing suits do carry your name in Australia, and that you're trying to advertise. You say the word thong to me, and I'll still think of anal floss... :)

05-30-12 at 04:21 AM	#12
rockyrocks Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,333	Slippers.. thats what they are called :P

05-30-12 at 05:14 AM	#13
bookdragon She Dragon Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In the bowels of the Earth Posts: 2,678	Quote: Originally Posted by rockyrocks Slippers.. thats what they are called :P Nope. Slippers are house shoes. slip·per/ˈslipər/ Noun: A comfortable slip-on shoe worn indoors. A light slip-on shoe, esp. one used for dancing. thong (thông, thng) n. 1. A narrow strip, as of leather, used for binding or lashing. 2. A whip of plaited leather or cord. 3. A sandal held on the foot by a strip that fits between the first and second toes and is connected to a strap usually passing over the top or around the sides of the foot. 4. A garment for the lower body that exposes the buttocks, consisting of a narrow strip of fabric that passes between the thighs supported by a waistband. flip-flop (flpflp) n. 1. The movement or sound of repeated flapping. 2. Informal A reversal, as of a stand or position: a foreign policy flip-flop. 3. A backless, often foam rubber sandal held to the foot at the big toe by means of a thong. 4. A backward somersault or handspring. 5. Electronics An electronic circuit or mechanical device capable of assuming either of two stable states, especially a computer circuit used to store a single bit of information. Leather Thongs Plastic/Foam Flip Flops

05-30-12 at 05:24 AM	#14
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	Thanks for the professional backing... :)