Welcome mat created water hazard at store, plaintiff says

Patricia Harris has extracted the term "water hazard" from the realm of golf and applied it to dollar store welcome mats.

Harris, seeking to escape the rain, ventured into the Port Arthur Family Dollar Store and slipped on the store's mat. She filed her personal injury lawsuit against Family Dollar with the Jefferson County Court at Law No. 1 on May 1.

According to her petition, she "attempted" to dry her feet on the store's mat. Because the mat was "oozing" water, she fell while attempting to step off the mat.

The suit faults Family Dollar with negligence for failing to warn Harris that the mat was soaked, and failing to remove "the soaked mat, which was dripping and oozing water."

Harris is suing for past, present and future medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, physical pain and mental anguish.

She is represented by the Law Offices of Woodsen E. Dryden.

Judge Alfred Gerson will preside over the case.

Case No. 108-146