Francesca De Cataldo, an Italian interior designer living in Killiney, County Dublin, has been awarded €12,240 in damages following a metal frying pan falling down a stairwell in the Avoca shop on Suffolk Street, Dubin in June 2005.
The only member of Avoca staff who was a witness had not seen the object falling. However, Circuit Court President Mr Justice Matthew Deery found Ms. De Cataldo’s testimony that she was hit by a frying pan credible.
Although there were no fractures or cuts, Ms De Cataldo testified that she suffered from headaches, stiffness in her neck and shoulders, light-headedness, feelings of nausea, vomiting, and sleeplessness. The injuries and circumstances make it plausable that the victim has whiplash symptoms.