In a dramatic turn of events, a Texas woman has filed a lawsuit seeking over $1 million in damages after suffering severe injuries on the premises of a local cosmetology school. The complaint was lodged by Maria Urdaneta against Victoria Cosmetology School, Inc. in the Harris County District Court on June 14, 2024.
According to the court documents, Urdaneta claims that she sustained serious and permanent bodily injuries on June 14, 2022, while visiting the premises of Victoria Cosmetology School located at 9815 Bammel North Houston Rd., Houston, TX. She alleges that she tripped and fell over a wrongly placed stack of chairs which had no warning signs around them. "Plaintiff suffered needlessly in that she experienced and continues to experience chronic pain, anxiety, and discomfort as a result of her injury," states the petition.
The plaintiff argues that Victoria Cosmetology School failed in its duty to maintain a safe environment for its visitors. The complaint emphasizes that the defendant's negligence led to dangerous conditions on their property. "Defendants owed a duty to use ordinary care in maintaining the premises in a safe condition by inspecting the property for any dangerous conditions and by making safe or giving warning of any defect," reads one part of the filing.
Urdaneta's legal team further accuses Victoria Cosmetology School of breaching this duty by not only failing to inspect the premises but also neglecting to place necessary warning signs about potential hazards. The complaint includes two primary causes of action: negligence and premises liability. In both cases, it is argued that Victoria Cosmetology School’s actions—or lack thereof—directly resulted in Urdaneta’s injuries.
The lawsuit seeks monetary relief exceeding $1 million for various damages including physical pain, mental anguish, medical expenses incurred so far, lost wages, disfigurement, and physical impairment from the date of the incident up until now. Additionally, Urdaneta is requesting compensation for future damages beyond the trial date such as ongoing medical expenses and continued loss of earning capacity.
Represented by Chukwuma Njaka from Denicks Legal PLLC, Urdaneta has demanded a jury trial for her case. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-37653 and will be presided over by Judge Christopher Matthews in Harris County’s 152nd Judicial District Court.