Zitlalli Ibarra Ochoa has filed a lawsuit against a major retail corporation, alleging negligence after suffering injuries from a slip and fall incident at one of the company's stores. The complaint was lodged on October 10, 2024, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, targeting Target Corporation as the defendant.
According to the court documents, on September 25, 2023, Zitlalli Ibarra Ochoa visited the Target store located at 8605 Westheimer Road in Houston. During her visit, she slipped on a puddle of liquid near a water fountain inside the store and sustained severe injuries. Ochoa claims that her fall was not due to any fault of her own but rather because Target Corporation failed to maintain safe premises for its customers. The lawsuit argues that Target had knowledge of the hazardous condition and did not take appropriate measures to warn customers or rectify the danger.
The plaintiff's petition outlines several causes of action against Target Corporation. It emphasizes premises liability, asserting that as an invitee, Ochoa entered the store with Target's knowledge for mutual benefit. The presence of an unmarked puddle constituted an unreasonable risk which should have been addressed by the company. Additionally, Ochoa invokes legal doctrines such as respondeat superior and res ipsa loquitur to argue that Target is vicariously liable for its employees' actions and that negligence can be inferred from the circumstances surrounding her injury.
Ochoa seeks substantial compensation for her injuries and damages which include past and future physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. She estimates these damages could exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000), requesting this amount be determined by a fact-finder. Furthermore, she seeks pre- and post-judgment interest along with recovery costs associated with bringing this suit.
Representing Zitlalli Ibarra Ochoa is Mukerji Law Firm P.C., with attorneys Sam K. Mukerji and Winfield S. Williams leading her legal team. The case has been assigned to Judge Tianni Williams in Harris County's 55th Judicial District under Case ID 2024-70640.