Woman trips over newspaper rack, sues Starbucks

While strolling through a Houston Starbucks nearly two years ago, Dena Wilhite tripped over a newspaper rack.

On Friday, March 20 she filed suit against the coffee chain in the U.S. District Court for Southern Texas, Houston Division, alleging the Starbucks Corporation failed to protect her from injury.

In her suit, Wilhite says that on July 20, 2013, she was walking through the Starbucks coffee shop located at 10805 Louetta, when she tripped over a wire newspaper rack on the floor.

As Wilhite fell, she struck the condiment bar with her right shoulder. She then hit the ground and landed on her neck.

The rack was allegedly located in a narrow walkway and was 10 inches cattycorner from a large, long table, according to the lawsuit.

“Defendants failed to act as a prudent complex owner would have under similar circumstances by failing to keep the walkway clear of objects that would cause customers to trip and fall,” the suit states. “As a proximate and direct result of the

Defendants’ negligence, Ms. Wilhite sustained injuries and damages.”

Wilhite is seeking a judgment in amount in excess of $75,000.

She is represented by Sammy Ford IV, attorney for the Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend law firm in Texas.

Case No. 4:15-cv-00738