Shfela Man Injured on Shabbat to Receive $35,000 Compensation
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
A resident of Israel's Shfela region, identified as "Sh", will receive over 130,000 shekels in compensation after falling down dark stairs on Shabbat. He sued the building's residents' committee, claiming negligence in maintaining stairwell lighting. The committee was aware that Shabbat observers might use the stairs in the dark. The insurance company has agreed to the settlement.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Shfela resident "Sh" to receive over 130,000 shekels compensation for fall on Shabbat.
- The fall occurred due to a dark stairwell in his apartment building.
- Sh sued the building's residents' committee for negligence in lighting maintenance.
- The committee knew Shabbat observers might use the stairs in the dark.
- The insurance company agreed to the compensation amount.
An insurance company has agreed to compensate a resident of Israel's Shfela region, identified only as "Sh", with over 130,000 shekels (approximately $35,000) following a lawsuit he filed. Sh sustained injuries after falling down the stairs of his apartment building due to the darkness, which he encountered while observing Shabbat. The incident occurred several years ago when Sh was visiting relatives in a multi-story building. As he is a Shabbat observer, he chose to descend the stairs rather than use the elevator. He claimed that while the initial part of the staircase was lit, the lights gradually dimmed as he went down. To avoid violating Shabbat, he refrained from operating the light switches, plunging him into near-total darkness. While attempting to proceed cautiously, he missed a step, lost his balance, and tumbled down the stairs, suffering various injuries and requiring prolonged treatment.
In his lawsuit, filed through his attorney Gil Kraus, Sh argued that the building's residents' committee was responsible for maintaining the stairwell and its lighting system, and for ensuring a safe passage for residents and guests. He contended that the intermittent lighting created an increased hazard, especially for someone unfamiliar with the building. The lawsuit further stated that the committee was aware that Shabbat-observant residents and their guests might use the stairs on Shabbat, avoiding the elevator. Despite this knowledge, no permanent or emergency lighting was installed, nor was any signage warning of the darkness placed in the stairwell. Sh argued that such simple measures would have significantly reduced the risk of falling.
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