Rugby club not liable for trip and fall near club house

Personal injuries – plaintiff suffered injuries when she tripped and fell to the ground while crossing the car park area of rugby club – argued that the rugby club failed to maintain the area in a safe and proper condition – alleges that there was a hole or depression in the car park and there was a large stone in the hole, into which her right foot came in contact and as a result she was caused to go over on her ankle, resulting in a fracture to the right ankle – rugby club alleges that she fell in different area -  deny that there was any defect in the surface of the car park – rugby club alleged that she had consumed a considerable quantity of alcohol on the night in question, and that she fell due to her intoxicated condition – argued that she failed to take reasonable care for her safety – evidence of alcohol consumption – evidence of incident - inadequate lighting – friends gave conflicting evidence –friends refused to sign note of incident that was supportive of the plaintiff’s account - engineering evidence of the surface of the ground – no complaint made about the surface of the car park on the night in question – evidence given that there was sufficient lighting – plaintiff’s mother took photographs of the locus - amount of alcohol consumed by the plaintiff prior to going to the rugby club – Court preferred evidence of the plaintiff’s friends - consumed a considerable quantity of alcohol prior to arriving at the rugby club - whether the plaintiff poured vodka from the mineral bottle into glasses which had mixers in them, while in the ladies toilet at the rugby club – assertion supported by the impressive evidence of the president of the rugby club - plaintiff’s credibility – Court found that the lighting was adequate - locus of the accident – stark difference in evidence – mother’s photographs not shown to engineer – engineer told that she slipped on loose stones not in a hole or depression – Court concluded that she fell in the area to the front of the club house just beyond the decking – no complaint about the surface of the ground in this area – area where she alleges to have fallen not unsafe – case dismissed.