Dr. Frederick M. Hueston, PhD

I had just walked into my favorite diner when Flo, who was in a particularly good mood, began singing a tune I didn’t recognize. As she poured my cup of joe, I smiled at her and placed my usual order for ham and eggs. Sitting next to me The counter was the Admiral, who started reminiscing about his old Navy days. Just as my order arrived, a woman entered the diner, slipped, and nearly fell. I checked to see if she was okay, and she nodded in affirmation. I turned back to my meal, and after finishing my breakfast, I headed to my old Woody. Wouldn’t you know it – as I was getting in the car, my cell phone rang.

The caller introduced himself as an attorney who had a puzzling slip-and-fall case: a lady had slipped on a marble floor in a Las Vegas casino. He only had to mention Las Vegas once for me to be interested, hoping it was a project I would need to inspect. He explained that she had fallen in a hallway leading to the main lobby and asked if I could come out, take a slip reading, and test the stone. I immediately agreed and began to book my flight and hotel, grabbing some cash for a bit of gambling on the side.

Upon arriving at the casino, I checked in and resisted the temptation to hit the blackjack tables. After unpacking and ensuring my slip meter was charged, I waited for the attorney’s call in my room. It didn’t take long. Of course, the moment I took my shoes off and got comfortable, he called, and said he was waiting for me in the lobby.

Unsure of what he looked like, I speculated he’d be the one in a suit, given that most visitors to Las Vegas wear casual clothes. Surprisingly, a man in jeans and a loud Hawaiian shirt approached me and asked if I was the Stone Detective. It turned out to be casual Friday at his office due to a party celebrating one of the law firm’s partners move to Hawaii. He then briefed me on the case, explaining that the woman claimed she had injured her back after slipping in the hallway. She asserted that the floor was slippery and caused her to fall.

We went to the scene, and I took several slip meter readings, both wet and dry, all of which returned within the safe range. I then inquired about security cameras, but there were none in that hallway, which meant I had to begin a thorough investigation.

I started by requesting a list of potential witnesses from Mr. Aloha and soon noticed a security guard near a jewelry store. He confirmed seeing the fall on the day it happened. He even helped the woman up, and she thanked him. I probed further and asked about her footwear. After a moment, he vividly remembered her wearing very tall high heels and struggling to walk in them. The attorney, concerned, pulled me aside and revealed that she had claimed to be wearing sneakers.

Realizing someone was lying, I suggested checking the lobby cameras to see what she wore there. The security footage confirmed the guard’s account: she was indeed in tall high heels and indeed seemed to be having trouble walking in them. Can you say insurance fraud?

Another case solved, and unfortunately for the attorney, it seemed he wouldn’t have much of a case to pursue. Now I can hit the blackjack tables. Wish me luck!


The Stone Detective is a fictional character created by Dr. Frederick M. Hueston, PhD, written to entertain and educate. Dr. Fred has written over 33 books on stone and tile installations, fabrication and restoration and also serves as an expert for many legal cases across the world.  Send your comments to fhueston@stoneforensics.com.