A slip-and-fall incident at a grocery store has led to a legal battle in Harris County, Texas. Melvina Fae Smith filed a complaint against Kroger Texas, L.P., on December 18, 2024, in the District Court of Harris County. The lawsuit accuses Kroger Texas of negligence after Smith sustained severe injuries from slipping on a slippery substance in one of their stores.
According to the petition, Melvina Fae Smith was shopping at the Kroger located on 1960 Road W, Houston, Texas, on August 4, 2023. While walking through the paper products aisle as a business invitee, she slipped and fell due to an unreasonably dangerous condition—a slippery substance—on the floor. The complaint asserts that this hazardous condition directly caused her injuries and necessitated subsequent medical treatment. Smith claims that Kroger Texas failed in its duty of care by not maintaining safe premises or warning customers about potential dangers. "Defendant breached the duty of care they owed to Plaintiff as a business invitee," reads the complaint.
Smith's lawsuit is built around allegations of negligence and premises liability against Kroger Texas and its employees. The plaintiff argues that Kroger's failure to maintain safe conditions and correct known hazards constitutes negligence. Specifically, she accuses them of failing to maintain a reasonably safe environment, allowing dangerous conditions to persist, and neglecting to warn customers about these risks. As a result of these alleged failures, Smith suffered significant physical injuries that have impacted her health and well-being.
In terms of relief sought from the court, Smith is asking for monetary compensation exceeding $1 million for damages incurred due to her injuries. This includes costs related to past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering endured both physically and mentally in the past and anticipated in the future, as well as any physical impairment or disfigurement resulting from the incident. Additionally, she seeks pre-judgment and post-judgment interest on all awarded damages.
Representing Melvina Fae Smith is attorney Joseph Garza from Herrman & Herrman P.L.L.C., based in Corpus Christi, Texas. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-87884 in the 133rd Judicial District Court of Harris County with Judge Jarod Stivup presiding over it.