Woman settles ‘toilet phobia’ lawsuit

JOHANNESBURG – A South African woman has settled a lawsuit in which she claimed to have developed a phobia about toilets after falling off one at a hotel.

Antonia Hart (59) sued the Sun International hotel chain following the August 2003 incident, asking for N$91 000 for pain, injury, medical treatment and “loss of amenities,” the South African Press Agency (Sapa) reported. Hart’s lawyers had accused the hotel of negligence, saying their client toppled off the toilet when it suddenly broke “whilst in normal use for the purposes for which it was installed,” Sapa quoted court papers as saying.Sun International’s lawyers conceded that the toilet had broken, but said Hart’s husband had signed a liability waiver upon checking in.”The matter was settled between the parties and the magistrate was informed on Monday that an agreement had been reached and that the lawsuit would not proceed,” Sapa said.Hart’s lawyers had accused the hotel of negligence, saying their client toppled off the toilet when it suddenly broke “whilst in normal use for the purposes for which it was installed,” Sapa quoted court papers as saying.Sun International’s lawyers conceded that the toilet had broken, but said Hart’s husband had signed a liability waiver upon checking in.”The matter was settled between the parties and the magistrate was informed on Monday that an agreement had been reached and that the lawsuit would not proceed,” Sapa said.

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