Suit filed against grocer after girl slips in water puddle

A Beaumont woman says the minor girl who accompanied her on a grocery-shopping trip was injured after she slipped on an unseen puddle of water.

Erin Turner filed suit individually and as next friend of minor Shayla Hamilton against TSTL Investments, doing business as Market Basket, on May 26 in Jefferson County District Court.

Turner says she and Hamilton were patrons at a Beaumont Market Basket on July 17, 2007.

While the pair was shopping, Hamilton slipped in a puddle of water between shopping carts and the soda machines, causing her to suffer past and future physical pain, mental anguish and physical impairment, the complaint says. In addition, Hamilton lost her earning capacity and incurred medical expenses, according to the complaint.

Market Basket breached its duty of ordinary care because it knew the premises created an unreasonable risk of harm and failed to place warning signs near the liquid, the suit states.

Turner is seeking an unspecified judgment, plus pre-judgment interest, costs and other relief to which she may be entitled.

Tom Oxford of Waldman Smallwood in Beaumont will be representing her.

The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: D184-151.