Rather than present arguments before a jury, H.E. Butt Grocery opted to settle a lawsuit brought by area resident Teresa Obregon.
The case was set to go to trial April 27, but was pushed back to May 2. During pretrial proceedings on Monday, the parties reached a settlement.
Obregon filed suit June 18 in Jefferson County District Court against H.E. B, alleging it was the grocery store's negligence that caused her to fall while shopping,
In her suit, Obregon claims she was in the process of buying groceries at H.E.B. on FM 365 in Port Arthur on an unspecified date when she sustained serious injuries after falling due to a "dangerous condition."
As a result of her fall, Obregon claimed incurred medical costs; experienced physical pain, suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment; and lost earnings and her earning capacity, according to the complaint.
She blamed the grocery store for causing her fall, saying it negligently failed to properly inspect the flooring area in question, failed to maintain the floor in a safe condition, failed to provide her with adequate warnings, failed to remove a hazardous condition causing the slip and fall and failed to remove the hazardous condition in a reasonable time.
The settlement amount was not immediately disclosed.
Brett S. Thomas of Roebuck, Thomas, Roebuck and Adams in Beaumont represented her.
M.C. Carrington of Mehaffy Weber in Beaumont represented H.E.B.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court, presided over the case.
Case No. B187-105