A paralegal worked at a law firm, which occupied both floors of a refurbished historic house. The only way to go between floors was via the stairs. One day, while descending the stairs to file some papers, the paralegal tripped at the top and fell to the bottom. She suffered a concussion and several broken bones. The cause of the fall was a loose stair tread, which gave way when the paralegal stepped on it.

The paralegal threatened to sue the firm for negligence in maintaining the stairway....