Winifred Bell has taken legal action against a major grocery chain, alleging negligence that led to her personal injuries. On October 9, 2024, Bell filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, naming H-E-B, LP and HEB Grocery Company, LP as defendants.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on October 16, 2022. Winifred Bell claims she was injured while using an electric cart at an H-E-B store located at 18611 Eastfield Dr., Webster, Texas. According to the lawsuit, Bell fell due to an uneven surface on a ramp within the store premises. The complaint states that this uneven surface constituted a dangerous condition which the defendants either knew about or should have been aware of. Bell argues that the failure of H-E-B and its employees to address or warn her about this hazard amounted to negligence.
Bell's lawsuit accuses the defendants of maintaining a hazardous condition on their property and failing to provide adequate warnings or remedial measures. She asserts that these failures directly caused her injuries and were not due to any fault of her own. Specifically, the lawsuit lists several points of alleged negligence: maintaining a dangerous condition, failing to warn customers like Bell about it, neglecting proper inspection protocols, and not rectifying known hazards.
As for damages, Winifred Bell is seeking compensation for physical pain endured both in the past and anticipated in the future. She also cites medical expenses incurred as well as those expected going forward. Additionally, she claims mental anguish and physical impairment resulting from the incident. While it's early in the proceedings to determine exact figures for compensation, Bell estimates her damages exceed $250,000 but do not surpass $1 million.
Represented by attorneys Richard J. Presutti, Meredith M. Smith, and Anthony T. Presutti from RJ Presutti Law PC based in Houston, Texas, Winifred Bell is asking for judgment against H-E-B jointly and severally with fair compensation determined by a jury trial. The presiding judge over this case is yet unnamed but will be from Harris County's 334th Judicial District Court under Case ID 2024-69981.