Cedar Park Hotel Wins Slip-and-Fall Case Against Guest
Table of Contents
Case Background
The case of Jessica Green v. Cedar Park Hotel, LLC came before the Superior Court in New London, Connecticut, and drew attention because it centered on a common situation that could happen to anyone an icy parking lot in the middle of winter.
Jessica Green, a resident who had gone to Cedar Park Hotel in North Stonington, Connecticut, claimed she slipped and fell on February 5, 2021, while crossing the hotel’s parking lot. She argued that the fall was not just an accident but the result of the hotel’s negligence in maintaining safe conditions for guests and visitors.
The hotel, on the other hand, denied wrongdoing and countered that Green herself was responsible for the fall because she did not exercise enough caution.
The trial became a battle over who bore the responsibility for safety: the business that owned and maintained the lot or the individual who walked across it.
Cause
Green’s complaint focused on the condition of the parking lot. According to her, a sheet of ice had been left untreated on the surface. She said the hotel had permitted the lot to remain dangerous by not removing the ice, not salting or sanding the surface, and not warning guests about the hazard.
She listed several specific failures by the hotel: it allowed the lot to remain defective, it did not clear snow or ice, it failed to rope off unsafe sections, and it did not place cones or warnings in areas that were slippery. Green argued these failures amounted to negligence because the hotel had a duty to maintain its property in a safe condition for people lawfully present.
Injury
The fall, according to Green, caused injuries that went beyond a momentary scare. She reported a significant back injury and an injury to her right wrist. She also described suffering emotional distress as a result of the incident.
These injuries disrupted her daily life. Green explained that she lost the ability to fully enjoy the activities she had once done easily. She also needed medical treatment, which created bills and the likelihood of future medical expenses.
Damages
Green sought monetary damages for both her economic and non-economic losses. Economic damages included medical bills already incurred and the likelihood of future expenses related to her injuries. Non-economic damages covered her pain, suffering, emotional distress, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Her complaint asked the court to award her more than $15,000, which is the minimum threshold for such cases in Connecticut Superior Court. She also sought any further relief the court deemed fair and just.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Jessica Green
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Jeffrey D. Lynch
Defendant: Cedar Park Hotel, LLC
· Counsel for Defendant: David J. Crotta Jr.
Claims
Green’s attorney painted a picture of a preventable accident. He argued that the hotel had full control of the premises and carried a responsibility to keep it reasonably safe. He reminded the jury that businesses routinely take measures in the winter salting, sanding, ploughing, or putting up cones to avoid exactly this kind of accident.
He told the jury that Cedar Park Hotel failed in these basic tasks and ignored the risks posed by icy conditions in February in Connecticut. According to him, this failure directly led to Green’s fall, her physical injuries, and her emotional suffering.
Defense
The hotel, through its attorney, pushed back firmly. The defense admitted it owned and controlled the property but denied negligence. They argued that Green herself played the key role in her fall.
The hotel’s attorney claimed that she did not keep a proper lookout for where she was walking, failed to step around the icy patch, and did not make reasonable use of her senses at the time. In short, they argued she could have avoided the accident if she had been more careful.
This defense strategy shifted the focus from what the hotel failed to do to what the Plaintiff failed to notice.
Jury Verdict
The trial ran its course, and the jury was asked to decide who was more at fault: the hotel for not clearing or warning about the ice, or Jessica Green for not avoiding it.
On March 27, 2024, the jury reached its decision. The verdict form presented two clear options either award damages to Jessica Green or find in favor of Cedar Park Hotel.
The jury ultimately ruled in favor of Cedar Park Hotel. That meant Green did not receive compensation for her fall and injuries. The jurors decided that the hotel did not bear legal responsibility under the circumstances.