Woman trips over wood in lumber store, sues

Needing some hooks to hang a few shelves and pictures, Lorretta Evans ventured into Parker Lumber, where she tripped over a pallet.

Two years after the fall, Evans is suing the lumber provider for "cluttering" its aisles with wood.

She filed suit Aug. 5 in Jefferson County District Court.

Court papers show Evans entered the Port Arthur business on Aug. 6, 2008, "for the purpose of buying hooks to hang shelves and pictures."

"Evans was seriously injured as a result of a dangerous condition (inside Parker Lumber)," the suit states. "Defendant stacked wooden pallets in the isles (sic) of the store causing the isles (sic) to be cluttered and hard to navigate."

The suit does not state the nature of Evans' alleged injuries.

The suit only accuses Parker Lumber of failing to warn its customers of the dangerous condition and of failing to "remove the pallets from the allies (sic)."

The suit further accuses Parker Lumber of failing to consider "the magnitude of potential harm" to its shoppers and acting with a "conscious indifference" for their wellbeing.

Evans is suing for exemplary damages, plus past and future mental anguish, lost wages and medical expenses.

She is represented by Port Arthur attorney Antoine Freeman.

Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. B187-494