Quantcast

Woman sues over fall at Galveston hospital

SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Woman sues over fall at Galveston hospital

Merrill

GALVESTON - After slipping while on her way out of a Galveston hospital two years ago, Houston resident Denise Poole has filed a lawsuit.

Poole's suit, filed June 15 in Galveston County District Court, blames Sodexo and Sodexo Inc. for leaving water under an inside doormat at the unnamed hospital which caused the plaintiff to fall and injure herself on June 17, 2010.

The plaintiff was leaving the facilities after visiting a patient when the alleged incident occurred.

"Specifically, while Poole was walking through the building, she slipped and fell when the mat slipped out from under her," the original petition says.

"The condition of the floor and/or mat was extremely slippery and dangerous."

Court papers assert the defendants "had washed the bottom of the doormat and had placed it back on the floor while wet and/or mopped the floor and placed the mat on the wet floor trapping the moisture," adding they "should have known of the existence of the dangerous condition of the water under the mat."

According to the suit, the respondents are faulted for:

  • Failing to maintain the mat;
  • Failing to warn Poole;
  • Permitting the water to remain;
  • Failing to put out warning cones;
  • Failing to have someone monitor pedestrian traffic; and
  • Failing to remove the mats while the floor was wet underneath them.

    Consequently, Poole seeks at least $75,000 in damages.

    She is represented by attorney Roger L. Merrill with Merrill & Associates in Houston.

    The case has been assigned to Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor.

    Case No. 12-cv-1364

  • ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

    More News