A routine shopping trip turned into a nightmare for a Houston resident, leading to a lawsuit against a major grocery chain. On October 17, 2024, Jeaneen Delmore filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, accusing Whole Foods Market Services, Inc. of negligence following an incident that resulted in personal injuries.
The lawsuit details events from July 16, 2024, when Delmore visited the Whole Foods store located at 1407 S. Voss Road in Houston. While navigating through the bakery section with the intent to purchase goods, she encountered a hazard that would lead to significant injury. Unbeknownst to her, water had pooled on the floor due to a leaking cooling unit—a situation allegedly neglected by store employees who opted for a makeshift solution of placing towels instead of addressing the root cause or warning customers. This oversight led Delmore to slip and fall, resulting in severe pain and injuries.
Delmore's legal team argues that Whole Foods Market Services failed in their duty of care by not maintaining safe premises for their patrons. The complaint highlights multiple points of negligence including inadequate training and supervision of staff, failure to follow safety protocols, and neglecting necessary repairs or warnings about hazardous conditions. The plaintiff further claims that these failures are part of broader systemic issues within Whole Foods' nationwide operations regarding customer safety measures.
The petition also accuses Whole Foods Market Services of negligence per se by violating local ordinances and state laws designed to ensure public safety—specifically citing failures related to plumbing codes intended to prevent such accidents. Additionally, it charges gross negligence on the part of Whole Foods for consciously disregarding known risks associated with leaking units despite being aware of similar incidents across other locations.
Delmore seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses incurred and anticipated future costs related to her injuries. She also demands compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, loss of earnings and household services, disfigurement, and impairment suffered as a result of the incident. Furthermore, she requests exemplary damages as punitive measures against Whole Foods Market Services for their alleged gross negligence.
Representing Jeaneen Delmore is Richard Ryder Haag from Attorney Brian White & Associates P.C., while no defense attorney has been listed yet in this initial filing. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-72463 under Judge Wanda Chambers in the 215th District Court.