A woman who sued after she claimed she tripped and fell over a kerb in a hospital grounds has been left with a substantial legal bill after she lost her case.

Tina Altman, who represented herself, will now have to pay the legal costs of the action against Dublin's Blackrock Clinic, which took place over four days in the High Court.

Ms Altman (60), of The Birches, Foxrock, Dublin, had sued Blackrock Clinic Ltd as a result of the alleged fall on the clinic grounds on June 29, 2006.

She claimed she suffered a head injury and immediately afterwards had no movement in her legs except for some minor mobility in her toes and also had pain in her lower back and neck.

She also complained of headaches, facial pain and arm pain.

Blackrock Clinic denied the claims and contended she was the author of her own misfortune.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Bernard Barton said there was no doubt Ms Altman suffered injuries, but he said she had failed to prove her case in accordance with law.

The court heard Ms Altman had driven to the clinic to collect her mother. She parked her car and was on her way across a walkway when she turned back to get her phone. While holding her handbag and phone, she made to cross the walkway again when she said her foot caught on something.

The judge looked at CCTV stills from security cameras but they did not show the cause of the fall. Awarding costs against Ms Altman, he said the kerb and walkway were clearly visible.

Irish Independent