Michigan Man Can Sue In-laws Over Garage Attic Fall

This could make the family Thanksgiving a bit uncomfortable.

A Detroit-area man is suing his in-laws after falling through their garage attic while hunting for a Christmas wreath. The Michigan appeals court has reversed a decision by an Oakland County judge and said the case should go to a jury.

Christopher Karim was at the West Bloomfield home of his in-laws, Salman and Regina Konja.

He had left work early to help with Christmas decorations. While in the garage attic, Karim stepped onto drywall instead of plywood and fell to the garage floor. His mother-in-law had just said, “No, don’t step there.”

The court decision doesn’t describe Karim’s injuries.

The appeals court said Friday it’s up to a jury to determine if the hazard was “open and obvious.”