Martha Maria Laurence, 74, brought the claim against Dischem and former employee Charl Pretorius after Pretorius had caused her to fall in the retailer's Hatfield, Pretoria, branch on August 19, 2009,

Dischem and a former employee have been held liable by the High Court in Pretoria after a woman fractured her hip when bumped in a shop by the employee, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Martha Maria Laurence, 74, brought the claim against Dischem and former employee Charl Pretorius after Pretorius had caused her to fall in the retailer's Hatfield, Pretoria, branch on August 19, 2009, according to the daily.

Judge Hennie de Vos, in making the order, said any person who worked in a public shop should do so in such a manner as to not endanger others.

De Vos found Laurence to be an honest person while he rejected Pretorius's version of events, stating he was not an honest witness.

Laurence had sought R850,000 in damages. The amount would be determined at a later stage.