Seeking up to $200,000 in damages, April Griffin filed suit against Valero Energy on Sept. 22 in Jefferson County District Court.
Steinhagen Oil was later added as a defendant.
On May 5 Steinhagen Oil filed its motion, arguing the evidence shows it conducted a reasonable inspection and that the company had no actual or constructive notice of any condition.
According to her lawsuit, Griffin was injured on Aug. 8 when she slipped and fell next to a Valero gas station ice machine.
Steinhagen Oil owned the station.
“One of defendant’s employees told plaintiff that a customer had just purchased a significant amount of ice that melted as the customer was transporting the ice out of the store,” the suit states. “However, the employee did not clean up the water; nor did the employee put out a wet floor sign.”
The suit states Valero owed a duty to Griffin to inspect and maintain its premises and warn her of any unreasonably dangerous conditions.
She is suing for her past and future pain, mental anguish, medical expenses, impairment and lost wages, plus court costs.
She is represented by Cody Rees of the Bernsen Law Firm in Beaumont.
Steinhagen Oil is represented by Houston attorney Amanda Hilty.
Judge Kent Walston, 58th District Court, is assigned to the case.
Case No. A-197581