Last year, Ida Lee Chretien was injured outside a Beaumont retirement center by what she claims was debris left by a lawn service company.
Chretien filed a personal injury suit against Lightfoot Landscaping & Lawn Co. and the Villas at Sunnyside Retirement Community on Nov. 21 in Jefferson County District Court.
According to the plaintiff's original petition, on Feb. 17, 2006, Chretien was walking on the sidewalk outside the Villas at Sunnyside when she "tripped and fell over debris that the defendant neglected to clear."
"Plaintiff would further show that defendants knew of the existence of the debris on the sidewalk or in the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered the existence of the debris on the sidewalk so as to prevent plaintiff from being injured," the complaint states.
The plaintiff claims she suffered serious personal injuries. No details of her injuries were provided in the suit.
However, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants committed the following specific acts of negligence:
Chretien is suing for lost earnings and earning capacity, past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, physical impairment, disfigurement and loss of ability to enjoy life.
She is also asking for interest, court costs and attorney fees.
"In the event the evidence in this case shows that the defendants' conduct amounts to gross negligence, then the plaintiff would seek to have the jury award punitive damages in an amount to be determined by the jury," the petition states.
Gross negligence is an intentional or willful failure to perform a clear duty, recklessly disregarding the consequences of injury to person or property.
The plaintiff is represented by Trent Bond of Reaud, Morgan & Quinn LLP in Beaumont.
The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.
Case No. D180-801