Granted motion adds new defendant to trip & fall, answer filed

Because of a granted motion seeking to designate a responsible third party, Mario Noyola has been added as a defendant in litigation brought by Christine Shelton, who sued Conn’s Appliances after tripping in a construction area.

As previously reported, the suit was filed May 12, 2011, in Jefferson County District Court.

Court records show that on Feb. 17, Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, granted a motion brought by Beth Garza Interiors, another defendant in the suit, seeking to designate Noyola and his company, Mario’s Floors, as a responsible third party.

On March 2 Noyola filed a pro se answer, stating that he was unaware of the incident.

The lawsuit alleges that on May 29, 2009, Shelton was shopping at the Beaumont Conn’s on Dowlen Road. At the time of the incident, the store was having some construction done and several floor tiles had been removed near the entrance.

In her suit, Shelton says she walked through the construction area and tripped and fell, permanently inuring her knee, which required extensive surgery.

She alleges Conn’s failed to warn shoppers of the danger and should have blocked off the area.

Shelton is suing for her alleged past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, pain, impairment, disfigurement and lost wages, plus all court costs.

Beaumont attorney Jonathan Juhan represents the plaintiff.

Case No. E189-998