Court Rejects £100,000 Injury Claim Linked to Dropped Chocolate Truffle

A woman who claimed she slipped on a rogue chocolate truffle while leaving a fine-dining restaurant has lost her £100,000 damages claim.

Rosina Malik, 62, said she twisted her ankle and broke her wrist after stepping on a caramel-filled truffle dropped by a waiter at Chapter One in Farnborough Common, Kent. The incident occurred as she stood to adjust her dress at the end of a three-course meal with friends.

Mrs Malik alleged the dessert had fallen to the floor while being boxed up by the waiter, and that she unknowingly stepped on it—or its remains—causing her fall. She sued the restaurant's owner, Simply Chapters Ltd, for up to £100,000, arguing the staff failed to clean up the hazard.

While the restaurant did not dispute that a truffle had fallen, it denied that Malik slipped on it. CCTV footage was reviewed, and in a ruling at Central London County Court, Judge Nigel Gerald found that Malik's shoe had "no contact" with the truffle prior to her fall.

The judge said chocolate residue found on her shoe likely got there after the accident, and dismissed the claim. Defence lawyers argued her fall was more likely due to her right ankle "inverting," possibly influenced by fatigue, high heels, a slippery floor, or having consumed three glasses of wine.

Mrs Malik told the court she was "in shock" after the fall, which left her injured. However, Judge Gerald ruled the "runaway truffle" was not responsible.

Whitestone Solicitors