Chloe Mickelborough, 31, says she can no longer wear high heels after breaking her foot during an advertising shoot at the designer’s Milan base.
Documents filed at Central London County Court say she suffers constant pain and swelling, cannot dance or run and has to wear only “supportive” trainers.
Her barrister, Michael Patrick, claims the company failed to provide a safe workplace for her.
Stella McCartney Ltd denies liability and insists Ms Mickelborough is the “sole author of her misfortune”.
The court documents said that in 2018, Ms Mickelborough was planning to film an interview on the second-floor walkway for the company’s Stella’s World clothing range.
Mr Patrick said it had been divided into two sections, including a closed area enclosed by a railing. He said: “The closed area contained flooring which, to an ordinary reasonable person, appeared safe, stable and conventional.
“The walkway contained no signs warning of any danger, or which otherwise explained the railing’s presence. Unbeknownst to the claimant, the flooring in the closed area could not support her weight.
“Accordingly, that flooring immediately gave way and the claimant fell through to the first floor below.” Ms Mickelborough suffered a left heel fracture which needed surgery and another operation two years later, Mr Patrick said.
Stella McCartney Ltd’s barrister, Nadia Whittaker, said Ms Mickelborough climbed a railing to get into an unsafe, unauthorised area and the corrugated plastic she fell through was not a floor.
She added: “It was an area that was clearly not designed and/or equipped for anyone to enter.”
Ms Whittaker said Ms Mickelborough “disregarded an obvious obstacle” when she climbed over the rail. The lawyer said in doing so, she “failed to take any reasonable care for her own safety”.
The high-fashion label founded by Stella, 52, the daughter of Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, is popular with celebrities including Melania Trump, Beyonce and Amal Clooney, the wife of actor George Clooney.
A full trial will be held at a later date.
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