H-E-B designates expert witnesses in slip & fall

A defendant grocery store chain recently designated a list of expert witnesses to be used in a slip-and-fall lawsuit.

As previously reported, plaintiff Florence Brown filed suit against the Port Arthur H-E-B on Nov. 12 in Jefferson County District Court, alleging she slipped in a puddle of water at the grocery store.

On Sept. 22 H-E-B submitted its designation of expert witnesses, court records show.

The people H-E-B seeks to elicit testimony from include Brown, her husband, Brown's treating physicians and H-E-B employees.

According to her petition, on May 13, 2009, Brown was shopping at the store when she "slipped in what she later learned to be water."

On March 18, H-E-B filed a certificate of discovery, notifying Brown it had answered her first set of interrogatories and responded to her request for production.

Brown says in her suit that she was completely unaware of any liquid substances on the floor and H-E-B had a duty to warn her of the danger.

She further maintains that H-E-B negligently failed to inspect and clean its premises and keep it a hazard free place to shop.

Brown is suing for her alleged past and future mental anguish, medical expenses, impairment and disfigurement.

Beaumont attorney Michael McGown of Benckenstein, Norvell & Nathan, represents her.

H-E-B is represented by Houston attorney Kip Patterson.

Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, is presiding over the case.

Case No. A188-786