Woman Crushed by Christmas Tree Sues Star Gold Coast for $1.7M

• Hairdresser alleges hand crushed moving giant casino Christmas tree.
• Negligence suit targets The Star, events firm, and temp agency.
• Claims surgery, therapy, ongoing impairment, and lost hairdressing income.

A hairdresser whose hand was crushed by a giant Christmas tree at Australia’s Star Gold Coast Casino near Brisbane, leaving her unable to work, is suing the venue and others for A$1.68 million (US$1.11 million).

In November 2023, Gabriela Maciel Saraiva, 36, had a temp job as a laborer at the casino in the lead up to Christmas, according to her recently filed negligence suit.

The plaintiff and a coworker were hauling the tree on a cart from a staging area to the casino atrium. Saraiva was pushing the cart while her colleague was pulling it, the lawsuit states.

Surgery Required

Unbeknown to Saraiva, an elevated work platform had been placed in the doorway of the staging area, and her line of sight to the left of the cart, where the platform had been positioned, was obscured by the base of the tree, according to the complaint.

As a result, her left hand was crushed between the guardrail of the cart and the Christmas tree base as they moved past, the lawsuit alleges.

Saraiva allegedly suffered injuries to the index, middle, and ring fingers of her left hand, including fractures to the fingertips.

Court documents state she required surgery, including K-wire fixation to her left index and middle fingers, as well as splinting and hand therapy.

The claim says the injuries resulted in ongoing pain, limited movement, reduced sensation and decreased grip strength in her left hand.

Hairdressing Hurdles

The plaintiff says the injuries have affected her ability to work as a hairdresser, with difficulties performing tasks such as cutting and clipping hair, shampooing, blow-drying, styling, and holding or positioning clients’ heads.

The work difficulties have caused the plaintiff to be less efficient at her hairdresser work when compared to her able-bodied colleagues and by consequences have caused her a loss of income,” according to the complaint.

In addition to the casino, Saraiva’s suit names temp agency Combined Labour and events management company A Noble Event Australia. She is asking for $774,317.15 (about US$511K) in damages from Combined Labour and a total of $910,910.28 (about US$601K) from A Noble Event and The Star.

In its defense, Combined Labour has acknowledged the plaintiff suffered injuries but argued it had “no control” of A Noble Event’s working practices and “no input” into the placement of the elevated work platform.

Neither the events company nor the Star have as yet filed responses to the lawsuit.

Each year in the US, an estimated 18,400 people end up in emergency departments after being injured by Christmas decorations, according to USAFacts.org. Injuries spike on the Sunday following Thanksgiving, when an average of about 660 patients seek treatment.