A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against a major grocery chain, alleging negligence after suffering injuries in one of its parking lots. Shirley Gilbert initiated the legal action on December 4, 2024, at the District Court of Harris County, Texas, accusing Kroger Texas, LP of failing to maintain safe premises.
The incident that sparked this lawsuit occurred on March 11, 2023. According to the complaint, Gilbert was closing her car door in the parking lot of a Kroger store located at 1700 N. Alexander Dr., Baytown, Texas when she tripped over a hazard and fell. As a customer and invitee on the premises, Gilbert asserts that Kroger had a duty to ensure her safety by maintaining the property in a reasonably safe condition or warning her of any potential dangers. The lawsuit claims that Kroger failed in these duties, leading to serious injuries for Gilbert.
Gilbert's petition outlines several causes of action against Kroger Texas, LP. The primary accusation is premises liability; she contends that Kroger knew or should have known about the dangerous condition but did not take appropriate measures to rectify it or warn patrons like herself. Furthermore, she alleges negligence on the part of Kroger and its employees for not exercising ordinary care in maintaining and inspecting the premises. This includes failing to correct known hazards and neglecting to inform customers about potential risks.
Additionally, Gilbert accuses Kroger of negligent training and supervision of its employees. She argues that inadequate training contributed to unsafe conditions because employees were not properly instructed on identifying and addressing safety hazards. This lack of oversight allegedly extended to insufficient monitoring and enforcement of safety protocols.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Gilbert requests damages within the jurisdictional limits exceeding $250,000 for medical expenses incurred due to her injuries as well as compensation for pain and suffering both past and future. She also seeks recovery for mental anguish and physical impairment resulting from the incident.
Representing Shirley Gilbert are attorneys Daniel Johnson and Leticia Hernandez from Johnson Garcia LLP based in Houston, Texas. The case is presided over by Judge Adiliani Solis under Case ID 2024-84675.