Woman's NT$1.4 Million Lawsuit Against Sushiro Dismissed After Fall

A woman's lawsuit seeking NT$1.4 million (approximately $43,000 USD) against the popular sushi chain Sushiro was dismissed by a judge, who ruled that the restaurant was not liable for her injuries. The woman had claimed the restaurant's design was unsafe after she fell and sustained severe fractures to her lumbar spine, pelvis, and left wrist while dining with her family to celebrate Father's Day at the Kaohsiung E-DA Outlet Mall branch.

The incident occurred on August 8, 2022. The woman and her family argued that the restaurant's fixed seating and the significant height difference between the seating area and the aisle created an unsafe environment. They sought NT$1 million for the woman's suffering and NT$100,000 each for her spouse and three children as compensation for emotional distress.

Sushiro, however, contended that the seating height complied with building regulations and that the steps had clear "height difference" warnings and anti-slip strips. The restaurant also argued that the woman's fall was due to her own negligence. The store manager had previously been cleared of criminal negligence charges.

Upon reviewing the evidence, including surveillance footage, the court found that the 13.5 cm step height was within the legal limit of 18 cm. The court also noted the clear color contrast between the dark brown seating area and the light beige aisle, as well as prominent warning signs. The footage revealed that as the woman prepared to leave, she turned her head to look back towards her seat before stepping, losing her footing and falling. The judge concluded that the accident was caused by the woman's failure to pay attention to her surroundings while moving, rather than any inherent lack of safety in the restaurant's design or maintenance.