Haifa Court Orders 250,000 Shekels Compensation for Fitness Studio Injury

A magistrates court in Haifa has ordered compensation and legal costs totaling approximately 250,000 shekels for a woman injured during a fitness workout at a Tel Aviv studio. Judge Hadar Masouri ruled that a piece of equipment placed nearby created an unreasonable risk and that those responsible should have prevented it.

The accident occurred in August 2019. The plaintiff, then a 30-year-old IDF officer, was participating in a box jump exercise, which involves jumping from the floor onto a box according to the trainer's instructions. She lost her balance, fell backward, and injured her back. She was evacuated by ambulance to Ichilov Hospital, where doctors diagnosed an acute fracture in one of her vertebrae along with additional disc bulges in her spine.

Court Proceedings and Arguments

In April 2022, she filed a lawsuit through attorney Daniel Shevah, alleging negligence for failing to ensure a safe training environment, leaving equipment and objects in the activity area, and lacking proper supervision during the session. She emphasized that she performed the exercise according to the trainer's instructions and argued that no responsibility for the fall should be attributed to her.

"The presence of unsecure equipment directly behind the training area constitutes clear negligence that could and should have been avoided," noted the legal arguments presented to the court.

The defendants, including the studio represented by attorney Sagit Zohar, argued that they acted professionally and in accordance with safety rules, and that the trainee assumed the natural risks inherent in sporting activities. They contended that the accident was caused by her carelessness and deviation from the trainer's instructions, warranting full contributory negligence.

Insurance Disputes and Final Ruling

The studio's insurer, Shomera, claimed through attorney Oz Berkovich that the incident involved professional liability not covered by its policy. The Phoenix, which insured the trainer and was represented by attorney Amar Shimon, argued a lack of insurance coverage due to policy expiration and subsequent cancellation over non-payment.

Judge Masouri accepted the trainee's version of events, ruling that she fell onto exercise equipment positioned behind her, supported by a friend's testimony and medical records. He clarified that it was foreseeable a trainee might lose balance backward during a jump, making the nearby equipment placement negligent. However, the judge also assigned a 20% contributory negligence to the plaintiff for not exercising sufficient caution.

A court-appointed expert assessed the plaintiff's permanent disability at 10%. The total compensation, after deducting contributory negligence and adding legal fees, reached approximately 213,000 shekels, alongside about 50,000 shekels in attorney fees. The insurance companies' claims of no coverage were dismissed.