2023-06-29 04:00:00
A young American woman and her family are suing Château Frontenac for $10.8 million after a fall down a flight of stairs left permanent scars on her back that would prevent her from achieving her dream of becoming a doctor.
Halaina Catherine Basham and her family were to spend a magical Christmas vacation in Quebec City in December 2019. However, on December 22, the entire life of the young woman, who was then 18 years old, changed, according to the claims of the lawsuit filed on June 6 at the Quebec Courthouse.
Photo d’archives Pascal Huot
First installed in a family suite, the Bashams had the request of the hotel management to move and be divided into two separate rooms, located one above the other. To facilitate their movement when moving their luggage, an employee would have left them two access cards allowing them to circulate by a service staircase usually reserved for staff.
It is in this stairwell that the young woman would have slipped on “white powder, dangerously slippery” which was on the steps. The fall is violent and fractures Ms. Basham’s wrist, in addition to injuring her back, can we read in the lawsuit.
Permanent sequelae
Following the recommendations of a Quebec doctor contacted by the hotel, the family decides to quickly return home to Maryland so that Halaina can see a doctor there.
The diagnosis is severe. Fractured and torn wrist ligament, spinal injury that ultimately required surgery, and nerve damage to the buttocks, legs and feet.
Operated on May 10, 2021, the young woman still has to move around with a cane when the pain is too intense, claim the plaintiffs. At times, a wheelchair is required for movement, with post-operative checks showing that it is “clear that Halaina will suffer permanent damage”.
If the consequences of the fall are numerous on a daily basis, the family alleges that the incident above all put an end to the professional dreams of the young woman. Admitted to a preparatory year of medicine and aiming for “the best American universities” in order to become an orthopedic surgeon, she finds herself heavily mortgaged.
It is this aspect that represents the largest part of the compensation requested, i.e. $7.7 million in loss of earning capacity (see box).
“Halaina will probably not be able to achieve her professional dream […] not being able to maintain a static position long enough,” the family described in their petition.
culprits
The Bashams question the management of the Château Frontenac, believing that it failed in its safety obligation by not ensuring the maintenance of its stairs to prevent the white powder that potentially caused the fall from being there.
“If the presence of a slippery white powder on a staircase intended for employees is at fault in itself, it is even more reckless to give hotel guests access to this service staircase”, claim the plaintiffs.
Represented by Tremblay, Bois, Mignault, Lemay, the family is jointly suing Château Frontenac and Accor Group, which owns the Fairmont banner. Their lawyer, Me Jean-Sébastien D’Amours, told the Journal not wish to give an interview, since the matter is before the court.
Same story from the side of the management of the Château Frontenac, who refrains from commenting on the case, except to recall that “the health and safety of customers and employees remain the absolute priority”.
Details of the lawsuit against the Château Frontenac
Total claim of $10,809,281
Halaina Catherine Basham – 10 364 281$
Damages: $350,000 Loss of future earning capacity: $7,778,421 Home help: $410,860 Cost of care: $1,000,000 Tax provision: $500,000 Management fees: $300,000 Miscellaneous expenses: $25,000 $
Parents – 220 000$
Damages: $100,000 each Miscellaneous costs: $10,000 each
Siblings (2 brothers, 1 sister) – $225,000
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