Former Currumbin Hotel assistant manager Cathryn Morris sues venue for $550,000

The former assistant manager of a popular Gold Coast pub is suing the business for $550K, alleging it was negligent in requiring her to perform an unpleasant task she was not equipped to do.

Former Currumbin Hotel assistant manager Cathryn Morris. Picture: Facebook

A popular Gold Coast pub is being sued for about $550,000 by a former worker who allegedly fell and injured herself during a search for a dead rodent that was stinking out the bar.

Cathryn Alice Morris, 58, lodged a damages claim against Currumbin Hotel owner Currumbin Hotel Pty Ltd, as trustee for the Currumbin Pub Business Unit Trust, in the Southport District Court on June 11.

According to her statement of claim, Ms Morris was employed as the venue’s assistant manager when the alleged fall occurred on June 8, 2022.

Ms Morris claimed that for about a week before her alleged fall, there was a “very strong odour... of decomposing flesh” at the bar area that she believed to be a dead and decaying rodent.

She said she requested pub boss Andrew Hindmarsh to “have someone come into the workplace” to find the source of the odour and remove it, but Ms Morris claims Mr Hindmarsh prevaricated and no action was taken.

Currumbin Hotel. Picture: Facebook/Currumbin Hotel

Ms Morris said she suspected the rodent was located in a wooden box that was stored in a corner under the bar, but that the box was difficult to access because a lip of the box was caught on a dishwasher pipe.

She claimed that she was attempting to use a long rod with a hook, which was ordinarily used to raise and lower blinds at the venue, to dislodge the box from the dishwasher pipe when the hook slipped off and she fell backwards.

According to her claim, Ms Morris allegedly suffered a fractured right wrist and a painful inflammatory condition to her right shoulder, known as subacromial bursitis, as a result of the fall.

She said she required two surgeries to her wrist, followed by “extensive hand therapy,” as well as two cortisone injections to her shoulder.

Ms Morris alleged her employer acted negligently by not engaging a suitably qualified person to undertake the task of finding and removing the source of the odour.

She claimed her boss, Mr Hindmarsh, had form when it came to refusing to authorise qualified professionals to undertake various maintenance.

She alleged that at one point “well before” her fall, she was reprimanded by Mr Hindmarsh for engaging a handyman to fix a cracked basin and leaking toilet. The alleged reprimand left her “fearful” of hiring professionals and instead relying upon “stop gap” measures such as getting pub patrons to help out.

Ms Morris said in her claim she was currently unemployed, having continued to work at the hotel until November 2024 when she was allegedly terminated due to being unable to work at full capacity across her allocated 38-hour work week.

Ms Morris is seeking approximately $550,000 in damages, plus interest and costs.

The damages claim includes $350,000 sought for loss of future earning capacity.

She said in her claim she continues to experience pain and discomfort in her dominant right arm, which impacts on her ability to lift, carry, and grip things.

Currumbin Hotel is yet to file a defence. Mr Hindmarsh declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.

Originally published as Former Currumbin Hotel assistant manager Cathryn Morris sues venue for $550,000