JC Penney is being sued after a customer tripped and fell on the sidewalk outside its store.
Janice Smith filed a lawsuit April 15 in the Jefferson County District Court against J.C. Penney Corporation Inc., J.C. Penney Company Inc., doing business as Texas JCP Company Inc., Parkdale Mall LLC and CBL/Parkdale Mall GP LLC, citing negligence.
Smith claims she sustained injuries after tripping and falling on a defective storm drain on a sidewalk outside of the JCPenney department store, at Parkdale Mall in Beaumont, on Jan. 19, 2013.
The suit alleges the dangerous storm drain was raised up with gaps large enough to rip the plaintiff's shoe, causing the fall that caused Smith serious injures to her knee and mouth.
Smith is seeking $1 million in damages, interest and court costs.
She is being represented in the case by Beaumont attorneys Robert L. Florance IV and Nathan M. Brandimarte of Orgain Bell and Tucker LLP.
Jefferson County District Court Case No. A195-611
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Jefferson County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.