Not very safe with shoppers near
To have that hazard so unclear
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How dangerous are thy branches!
“O Christmas Tree” is based on an old European folk song that contrasted the evergreen “fidelity” of a fir to the inconstancy of unfaithful lovers. It wasn’t until the 19th century, when the tradition began of decorating trees for Christmas, that the song was adapted as a carol.
There are multiple versions of the lyrics, which now include the one above that we hereby contribute to commemorate a lawsuit filed by a yuletide shopper in Houston who claims to have been severely injured by a Christmas tree on sale at a local supermarket last year.
Ronald Siegel is suing Kroger Texas in Harris County District Court for up to $1 million in damages to compensate for a scratch he allegedly suffered when brushing against a display of Christmas trees at the entrance to the store.
How anyone can miss a single Christmas tree, much several grouped together in one place, is hard to fathom, but Siegel insists that he “lacerated his leg on an errant branch of a Christmas tree displayed in a set.”
“The display was dimly lit,” his suit asserts. “The danger was not open and obvious to Siegel,” which is why he thinks Kroger was negligent in not warning him about the “dangerous conditions” and should be held responsible for his “serious injuries.”
Where are all the other Kroger shoppers maimed by the errant branch of this marauding tree in its dimly lit display? Maybe Siegel could lead a class action suit on behalf of all the tree’s victims.
Needles(s) to say, no other victims have come forward, because there aren’t any. Everybody else who shopped at Kroger that day managed to avoid the maliciously hidden hazard.
And a million dollars for a scratch on the leg! Is Siegel a leg model? If so, he should have had Lloyd’s of London insure his limb.
Someone, please tell Siegel that money doesn’t grow on trees.