Reference no: EM132800958

The Brummage Department Store sells a wide range of merchandise including, cloths, household goods, luxury items, sporting goods and children's toys. To increase the number of customers to the store several special themed events are being held during the next several weeks.

On Monday afternoons there is going to be a gourmet cooking exhibition where famous cooks demonstrate cooking skills.

On Wednesday mornings there will be a sporting equipment showcase where famous athletes demonstrate the latest in sporting goods.

On Friday afternoons there will be a fashion event where customers can join famous designers in designing clothes and fashion accessories.

The programmes begin and guest demonstrators wear a Brummage Department store T shirt. They are full time employees of their respective brands that they represent and receive complimentary refreshments and food from the Brummage Department store. The guest demonstrators' brands are donating their services free to the Department store in order to generate more sales and to publicise their brands.

In the first week of holding the events several situations develop.

On Monday, Sanjay a customer visiting the event slipped and damaged his ankle on a banana skin which had been dropped on the floor.

On Wednesday Jessica, aged 7 was with her mother Rachel attending the sports event. Jessica was bored and whilst her mother was watching a demonstration slipped unnoticed out of the event. She was looking for the toy section and went through a door marked, 'Staff only'. The door led to the maintenance area and unfortunately, she slipped on some loose flooring which was being repaired by 'Floors Ltd', independent contractors. All the staff had been warned by the store management about the work being carried out by the store management.

Rachel realises that her daughter is missing and looks for a store assistant to get help. Unfortunately, she is injured when a golf ball hits her eye. A demonstrator of sports equipment unfortunately hit the ball too hard.

On Friday, Martin aged 18 attends the fashion show. He watches the show for about 10 minutes and then decides to see whether the store have received a new shipment of 'Zest Trainers' which are rare and have a high second-hand sales value. He has a friend who works in the store, but she is not working that day, who said a new delivery was due in on Friday.

Martin goes through a door marked 'staff only' and looks for the footwear storeroom. He goes through another door marked 'Secure stock', 'authorised staff only' and enters the stock room. He sees a pallet of 'Zest Trainers' and decides to head for the trainer section to purchase a pair. Unfortunately, on the way out of the storeroom he hits and cuts his head on some display banners which had fallen when he moved some boxes. He also slips on a loose floor tile, damaging his ankle.

The banners had been packed very tightly together and were not secure. The Brummage Department store had been aware for three weeks before this event that some customers had been visiting the footwear storeroom to see for themselves whether any new stock had arrived. The store was planning to install a security guard at the entrance to the footwear storeroom but had not done so yet.

Advise the Brummage Department store of any potential liability arising in tort.