Laceration from loose screw at Sugar House slots chair leads to suit

A Glenside, Pa. woman who claims the back of her leg was sliced open by a screw protruding from a chair at a Philadelphia casino is suing the gaming hall in state court.

Attorney Stuart A. Carpey, of the Conshohocken, Pa. law firm of Kreithen, Baron & Carpey, P.C., filed the personal injury claim Nov. 7 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Beatrice Belsky.

The defendant named in the lawsuit is SugarHouse Casino HSP Gaming LP.

According to the civil action, Belsky was playing the slot machines at the casino, located at 1020 N. Delaware Avenue, on Oct. 22, 2010, when, after sitting down in a chair, her right calf area was “severely lacerated” by the loose screw.

As a result of the incident, Belsky endured pain and suffering, lost time from her usual duties, experienced a loss of earnings and earning capacity and incurred debts related to her medical treatment.

The lawsuit accuses the defendant of negligence for failing to maintain the premises in a non-defective condition, failing to have inspected the premises, failing to warn patrons of the defective condition, failing to exercise due care under the circumstances and being otherwise negligent and careless.

Belsky demands judgment against the defendant in a sum not to exceed $50,000.

The non-jury matter is scheduled for arbitration in July 2012.

The case number is 111100102.