ABU DHABI // Lawyers for a hotel that is being sued for Dh20 million after a wooden wardrobe rack fell on a guest’s head told a court today that their insurance company and the company that built the wardrobe should be co-defendants.
Natalie Creane, 33, a British expatriate from Dubai, was unpacking shoes in her room at the Emirates Palace hotel during a trip to the capital in July 2008 when the 2.2kg rack fell on her.
Mrs Creane, who was staying at the hotel to celebrate her engagement, claims she sustained a severe brain injury that has caused her to suffer epileptic seizures.
In medical reports that were filed with the civil court, Mrs Creane said she had been admitted to intensive care more than 10 times. She also lost her job as a human resources director as a result.
She accuses the hotel of being negligent in not fixing the rack securely.
A medical report that was presented to the court has described the injuries Mrs Creane suffered as constituting a 50 per cent disability.
The case was adjourned until September 6.
hdajani@thenational.ae
* The article has been amended since it was first published to make it clear that Mrs Creane did not make an appearance in court today.
