DiOrio v. Penny

LAKE, Justice.

On 13 July 1985 the plaintiff and her husband, the DiOrios, leased from the defendants a two-story house that was 75 to 125 years old. In past years the defendants had lived in this house for approximately six months and then leased the house to other tenants prior to its rental by plaintiff and her husband. When plaintiff signed the lease the house contained a staircase which was covered by carpeting which extended unsupported beyond each step before continuing down the riser to the next step. The risers or height of the steps on this staircase varied from 4 inches at the…