A shopper's visit to a Dollar General store turned into a nightmare, leading to a legal battle over alleged negligence. On August 23, 2024, Heather Thomas filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County against Dolgencorp of Texas, Inc., doing business as Dollar General.
According to the lawsuit, Heather Thomas claims she sustained personal injuries on December 1, 2023, while shopping at the Dollar General store located at 12020 Ralston Road in Houston, Texas. Thomas alleges that she slipped and fell on a dirty, slippery substance on the floor, which resulted in immediate pain in her left leg, right side hip, and back. The complaint asserts that the defendant had a duty to eliminate or warn customers about unreasonably dangerous conditions on their premises but failed to do so.
The plaintiff's petition outlines several accusations against Dollar General. It states that the employees did not provide any warning signs about the hazardous condition and failed to maintain a safe environment for invitees like Thomas. The document quotes specific failures: "Failed to properly maintain the premises," "Failed to exercise reasonable care," and "Failed to give adequate warning to invitees." As a result of these alleged oversights, Thomas suffered severe physical injuries.
Thomas is seeking monetary relief greater than $250,000 but less than $1 million. She argues that her injuries have led to significant physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of wages and earning capacity, as well as medical expenses. Furthermore, she contends that Dollar General's actions were grossly negligent and exhibited flagrant disregard for her health and safety. The plaintiff is also pursuing punitive damages due to what she describes as an extreme degree of risk posed by the conditions at the store.
The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-56088 and will be heard in the 189th District Court of Harris County. Representing Heather Thomas is attorney Sofia E. Bruera from Bruera Law Firm PLLC.