Alvin man sues dry cleaner for trip on carpet

GALVESTON � An Alvin man blames a Friendswood dry cleaning business for a fall he reportedly suffered while at the business a year ago, court documents say.

Lanell Pounds filed suit against Trikut Devi Inc., doing business as Dry Clean Plus, in Galveston County District Court on Aug. 8, alleging the poor upkeep of the carpeting at the establishment caused him to lose his balance and hurt himself.

The lawsuit states Pounds went to Dry Clean Plus on or around March 30, 2007, to get work done on an undisclosed article of clothing when his feet became jumbled with the carpet.

"During that time that Lanell Pounds was upon defendant's property, Lanell Pounds was seriously injured as a result of a dangerous condition in that carpet in the defendant's premises was loose and blew up when the door was opened, causing plaintiff's feet to go under the carpet, resulting in a fall," it explains.

Pounds asserts it was the state of the carpet at the time that proximately caused his bodily injuries, accusing the defendant of failing to do the following:
Properly inspect and maintain the flooring area in question to discover the dangerous condition;
Maintain the floor in a reasonably safe condition;
Give adequate and understandable warnings to plaintiff of the unsafe condition of the flooring area;
Give warnings to plaintiff of the unsafe condition; and
Remove or repair the carpet causing the injuries.

"Defendant negligently permitted the floor to become dangerous and negligently or willfully allowed such condition to continue and negligently or willfully failed to warn plaintiff of the condition of the floor," the suit says. "This condition existed despite the fact that defendant knew or should have known of the existence of the aforementioned condition and that there was likelihood of a person injured as occurred to plaintiff."

Pounds, who is represented by Pasadena attorney Frank A. Hale, seeks damages, including medical attention, loss of earnings, and loss of consortium.

Judge Lonnie Cox of the 56th District Court is presiding over the case.

Case No. 08CV0844