Crown Casino sued after punter slips on vomit and breaks his neck

Wednesday 29th April 2020

Michael Stephenson has since undergone a hip operation and suffers knee pain

A man who suffered life-changing injuries after slipping on someone else's vomit at a Crown Casino is suing the multi-billion dollar company for negligence.

Michael Stephenson had enjoyed a night of gambling at the casino on Melbourne's Southbank when he slipped and broke his neck.

The incident could now cost the casino hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a lawyer claiming the casino should have mopped up the vomit.

Crown Casino is owned by billionaire businessman James Packer.

Mr Stephenson said he now suffers with depression and anxiety following the fall in December 2017, after the neck brake and an injury to his right hip left him with an abnormal gait.

The incident allegedly took place inside the Crown Casino in Melbourne (pictured) in 2017

The neck injury was so serious that the fracture had to be wired and screwed back into place, lawyers claimed, and he now requires carers in his home.

Following the fall, Mr Stephenson also underwent a dynamic hip screw operation to fix the fracture, causing 'pain and limited movement'.

Pre-existing back and knee injuries were also aggravated, his lawyers said.

He claimed there was no sign up warning punters about the vomit, nor had it been cleaned up.

In a writ penned by his lawyers and filed with the County Court, Mr Stephenson is claiming he suffered personal injury loss and damage, according to the Herald Sun.

Billionaire Australian businessman James Packer (pictured, right) is the director of Crown Resorts Limited, which owns the casino

Lawyers claimed the casino failed to 'remove a customer who was obviously intoxicated, allowing them to vomit on the floor, creating a slip hazard'.

The writ also alleged staff failed to 'attend and assist an intoxicated customer who had vomited' and 'clean up or restrict access to a floor area covered by vomit'.

It is also alleged that no 'proper warning of a situation of danger' was provided, meaning no signage.

Mr Stephenson, who was unemployed at the time, is continuing to suffer with spiraling medical expenses, he claimed.

'The Plaintiff has incurred medical and like expenses as a result of the said injuries which expenses continue,' the writ reads.

'Establishments like Crown need to be held to high standards regarding the responsible service of alcohol.

'Unfortunately for Mr Stephenson, due to this incident he now has a permanent injury which has ultimately changed the course of his life.'

The man alleged that there were no signs at the Crown Casino in Melbourne (pictured) to warn punters about the pool of vomit, nor was it cleaned up by staff