Man Injured by Fall in Theater

Case Overview

This case takes place in Michigan and involves a man who tripped and fell at a theater. During the show, the man got up from his seat to visit the concession counter. On his way back, he tripped on the a step that was not well lit and was without access to a handrail – resulting in him sustaining multiple injuries, including a broken wrist. This is not the first time an individual was injured from falling over this particular step, and it is assumed that some sort of action should have been taken to prevent such an accident from re-occurring.

Questions to the Security expert and their responses

Are you a General Manager or owner of a theater?

I currently own and operate multiple theaters.

Have you ever served as an expert witness on a case involving theater safety / design?

I have worked with architects in designing theaters and am familiar with the safety involved. I would be happy to review this case.

Are there any policies in place to ensure the adequate safety of your patrons with regard to handrails, lighting, stairs, warning signs etc.?

There should be aisle lighting as well as handrails on the stairs. I am surprised that there was no handrail. Local codes typically require them. It is also common sense to have handrails when someone is climbing stairs. It sounds like there is fault on the part of the defendant.

About the expert

This expert has 30 years of experience in the movie theatre industry. He has worked as a District Manager for United Artists Theatres and as a Project Manager for new build and renovation theatre projects. He previously served as President of the National Association of Theatre Owners of Michigan. He currently owns and operates a theatre circuit consisting of three different theatres in Michigan including one ten-screen theatre and one four-screen theatre. In addition to the theatre circuit, he owns and operates a consulting group for theatre real-estate developers and a digital technology company that installs new cinema solutions throughout the country.