George R. Haile

WHITFIELD, J. -- George R. Haile brought an action against the hotel company in which the declaration alleges in effect that the defendant company was the owner and proprietor of a certain hotel called Mason Hotel, in the City of Jacksonville, Florida; that plaintiff at about 11:30 A.M. went to the said Mason Hotel on business with its manager when he was then and there directed and conducted to the office of the said manager by a clerk and another employee of the defendant; that after concluding his business with the said manager, plaintiff proceeded to leave said office and Hotel by a passage way or hall way then and there provided for said purpose; that while he was passing or attempting to pass from the said office of the said manager to the lobby of said Hotel, as he was directed, authorized and invited to do, plaintiff fell into an open elevator shaft in said hall or passage way which was and had been left open, unguarded, unlighted, unprotected by and through the negligence and carelessness of the defendant; that defendant was guilty of negligence and carelessness in the premises, in this, to-wit: that it failed to keep said hall way or passage way sufficiently or properly lighted for the protection of plaintiff and others similarly situated in the premises; that by reason of said carelessness and negligence of the defendant the plaintiff fell into the elevator shaft as aforesaid, and was injured etc., wherefore plaintiff claims specified damages.