Messier v. Szymkiewicz

Following a jury-waived trial in the Superior Court, judgment was entered awarding the plaintiff, Theresa Messier, damages for physical injuries sustained when she slipped and fell on a stairway in premises owned by the defendant’s intestate, Bella M. Harris. In a companion case a judgment was entered for the plaintiff’s husband for medical bills. The defendant appealed in both cases.

About 1960, plaintiffs rented a furnished top-floor apartment in a three-story tenement building owned by Bella. A single stairway provided the only means of access to and from the top floor. The stairs were…