A couple has sued a Cranberry Township restaurant claiming the height difference between an elevated booth and the floor caused the wife to fall and fracture her hip.

Denise and Michael Schwartz of Butler County filed the suit April 21 against the North Park Lounge seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.

Named as defendants are NPL Cranberry Real Estate, owner of the restaurant, North park Lounge Cranberry Inc. and BDNL Real Estate LLC.

The suit alleges the accident took place Feb. 25, 2021, and refers to the height difference between the booth and floor as a dangerous, defective, hazardous and unsafe condition. There were no warnings about the difference in height, according to the suit.

Denise Schwartz tripped, slipped or lost her balance due to the height difference and sustained a left hip fracture and bruises, as well as nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression, according to the suit.

She had surgery on her hip that included placement of an intramedullary nail and lag screw, and was hospitalized from Feb. 25 until March 1 last year, according to the suit. She underwent physical therapy, has permanent scarring and will have to use a cane to walk for the rest of her life, she claims in the suit.

She has paid for medical treatment, supplies, rehabilitation and medicine; her health and vitality have been impaired; and she has lost earnings and earning capacity, according to the suit.

The suit argues that the restaurant is negligent by providing a premises that was unsafe to use; allowing a dangerous condition to exist; not eliminating a dangerous condition; failing to warn people about a dangerous condition; and failing to cordon off or provide warnings about the area.

The restaurant owner could not be reached for comment.