Malibu Woman Sues Hospital For Rapidly Closing Door That Broke Her Hip

MALIBU, CA – A Malibu woman, 68, sued Marina del Rey Hospital Wednesday, alleging that she had to give up her career as a top-flight caterer after an unusual accident where she was hit by a door that rapidly closed in June, thrusting her onto the hard surface outside of the facility where she broke a hip.

Stephanie Tanous' Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit cites negligence, premises liability and strict products liability. In addition to Marina del Rey Hospital, she is also suing Cedars-Sinai Health System, which owns Marina del Rey Hospital, and Stanley Access Technologies LLC, which designed, made and sold the hospital door.

Tanous operated a catering business before the accident and had many high-profile corporations as clients in Los Angeles County, the suit states. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Representatives for the defendants could not be immediately reached.

Tanous went to Marina del Rey Hospital on June 13 to visit a friend who was in critical condition and for whom the plaintiff served as a patient advocate, the suit states.

"As Tanous was leaving the hospital, the automatic sliding door between the lobby and the parking lot slammed shut with great force, struck Tanous on the shoulder and catapulted her onto the concrete outside the hospital," according to the complaint. "Tanous was screaming, crying and immobile."

The hospital staff put Tanous onto a gurney and gave her morphine, the suit states.

Tanous was later transferred to California Rehabilitation Institute, where she was told that during surgery at the hospital a metal rod was put in her injured leg that will likely be there for the rest of her life, the suit states.

Tanous was unable to return to her apartment because she was unable to climb the 16 steps, the suit states. She can no longer work or drive and also is unable to cook, clean or do laundry, the suit states. Tanous has been told she may never walk normally again and that she will have pain and mobility issues for the rest of her life, the suit states.

Tanous also cannot exercise or dance, "activities that were central to her life before the incident," the suit states.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Emily Holland contributed to this report

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