Woman's suit says warning signs, blockades needed to prevent fall at HEB

Although warning signs marked liquid on the floor of an area HEB, Loretta Douglas still slipped and fell.

Alleging that the warnings should have been clearly visible from all paths of approach, the Port Arthur local filed a slip and fall lawsuit against HEB Grocery Co. on Sept. 12 in Jefferson County District Court, seeking exemplary damages for her injuries. 

According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 19, 2012, Douglas was shopping at the Port Arthur HEB when she slipped and fell on liquid near the express checkout lane.

The suit says the store and its employees were aware of the liquid on the floor because they had marked the area prior to Douglas’ injury but “failed to mark the area for the direction from which Mrs. Douglas was walking through.”

“Further, the aisle through which Mrs. Douglas was walking was not properly blocked,” the suit states. “Defendant failed to properly block off the area where the liquid was located so that plaintiff could not walk through the area.”

Douglas injured her shoulder, tailbone, foot and knee in the fall.

On top of exemplary damages, the plaintiff is suing for her alleged past and future medical expenses, mental anguish, pain, impairment, disfigurement and lost wages.

Houston attorney Kevin McDaniel represents her.

Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, is assigned to the case.

Case No. E194-730