This was a premises liability case involving a dangerous and defective entryway condition at a commercial showroom in Venice, California. The plaintiff, an interior designer, entered the building from a parking lot and encountered an unexpected drop of approximately six to seven inches immediately inside the doorway—far exceeding allowable building code standards. Due to lighting conditions, shadows, and the open doorway, the hazard was not visible. The plaintiff fell forward and sustained a severe spiral fracture to her arm after becoming entangled in a display fixture.
The building’s failure to comply with applicable building codes supported a negligence per se theory of liability. The case resolved for $900,000. This matter highlights the importance of building code compliance and safe ingress and egress conditions in commercial properties.