Castelo Branco cafe owner ordered to pay 165,000 euros after fatal fall

A cafe owner in Castelo Branco has been ordered to pay 165,000 euros in compensation to the widow and three children of a 77-year-old man who died following a fall in June 2022.

The victim reportedly entered an unlit basement through a door he mistook for a restroom. The fall, which spanned approximately five meters down steep iron stairs, resulted in multiple injuries that led to his death the following day at Hospital Amato Lusitano.

The Coimbra Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's decision, ruling that the establishment owner has a duty to ensure public safety and prevent hazards. The court noted that at the time of the accident, the basement door was open and the area lacked proper lighting, warning signs, or barriers. The defense has indicated intentions to appeal, arguing that the premises had adequate lighting and that the victim's health may have influenced the incident.