Phila. banquet venue hit with personal injury claim

A Philadelphia woman who claims she suffered a broken wrist after falling down while dancing during a downtown wedding reception has filed a personal injury claim against the venue.

The complaint, which was filed Jan. 23 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by New Jersey attorney Stephen P. DeNittis, alleges that Barbara Callan had to have surgery to repair a fractured wrist that she injured after falling on a temporary wooden dance floor at the Crystal Tea Room.

Callan, whose husband, Francis Callan, is a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit, claims her high heel shoe became caught between two panels of the wooden dance floor that were not properly pushed together.

The incident, which occurred while the Callan’s were attending a wedding at the Center City, Philadelphia venue on March 12 of last year, caused Barbara Callan to “fall violently backwards onto her left wrist on the dance floor.”

The lawsuit, which blames the defendant for failing to detect a hazardous condition, states that Callan had to have surgery to repair her fractured wrist.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants, listed as the Crystal Tea Room and Havertown, Pa.-based Finley Catering Co. Inc., of negligence for failing to ensure the safety of patrons attending weddings at the venue, failing to properly assemble a temporary dance floor, failing to keep the structure in a safe condition, failing to properly maintain and inspect the dance floor and failing to provide adequate warnings to Callan and other guests so as to avoid harm.

The suit claims that the plaintiffs have incurred expenses related to the treatment of Callan’s injuries. It also states that Callan has been prevented from performing her usual occupations and duties because of her injuries.

The lawsuit contains a loss of consortium count by Callan’s husband, who claims he has been deprived of his wife’s services and companionship.

Each plaintiff seeks judgment against the defendants in a sum in excess of $50,000 plus interest and related costs.

A jury trial has been demanded.

The case ID number is 120102718.