Woman sues Pizza Hut after tripping over wheel stop

After finishing a slice of Pizza Hut pizza, Lumberton resident Kathleen Feldt exited the store and tripped over a wheel stop on the way to her car.

On Dec. 10 she filed suit against NPC International (doing business as Pizza Hut) and Valencia Hills Partners in Jefferson County District Court, alleging it is the defendants' fault she tripped because the parking lot area was poorly lit.

Court papers show that Feldt went to dine at a Lumberton Pizza Hut on the night of Oct. 13, 2009. She was allegedly injured as she exited "defendants' premises when she tripped and fell over a wheel stop located in her path in a poorly lit area adjacent to the sidewalk of Pizza Hut."

"Defendants were ... responsible for the placement of the wheel stop and the lighting of the area where plaintiff feel," the suit states. "Defendants should have know that the condition on its premises created an unreasonable risk of harm to invitees."

Feldt alleges she fractured her ankle in the fall and is suing for her past and future mental anguish, medical expenses and lost earnings.

She is represented by Beaumont attorney Don Bush of the Bush Lewis law firm.

Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. E188-945