A Harris County resident has taken legal action against two local grocery store chains following a slip-and-fall incident that allegedly caused significant personal injuries. Marques Neal filed the complaint on December 26, 2024, in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, targeting Gerland’s Food Fair, LLC and Food Town.
According to the petition, Neal's accident occurred on May 31, 2023, at a Food Town location in Houston. The lawsuit claims that Neal slipped on a wet floor due to negligent maintenance by the defendants. "Plaintiff seeks money damages from Defendants for personal injuries arising from a falling accident," the document states. Neal argues that both Gerland’s Food Fair and Food Town failed to ensure their premises were safe for customers by not adequately warning them about freshly mopped floors without proper signage. The plaintiff contends that these actions constitute negligence as they did not meet the standard care expected of business owners towards their invitees.
The petition further details how Neal suffered physical pain and mental anguish due to the incident and required medical treatment. It highlights specific failures by the defendants such as inadequate inspection and cleaning practices, lack of proper warnings about hazardous conditions, and insufficient employee training regarding customer safety protocols. "Defendants owed a duty to Plaintiff to exercise ordinary care...to reduce or eliminate unreasonable risk of harm," it reads.
Neal is seeking both special and general monetary damages for his injuries. He requests compensation for past and future medical expenses estimated at $150,000, alongside claims for physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement totaling up to $400,000. Additionally, he asks for court costs and pre-judgment interest as permitted by law. Overall, Neal demands judgment for monetary relief exceeding $2500 but not more than $1 million.
Representing Marques Neal are attorneys Scot G. Dollinger and Kristen R. Weaver from Stewart J. Guss & Associates PLLC. The case has been assigned to Judge Christopher Matthews under Case ID 2024-88828 in the 215th Judicial District Court of Harris County.