A shopping trip turned into a nightmare for one Palm Beach County resident, leading to a legal battle against a major wholesale supplier. On July 1, 2024, David Lockhart filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida, against Restaurant Depot, LLC.

According to the complaint, Lockhart was shopping at Restaurant Depot’s Riviera Beach location on June 9, 2022, when an employee negligently dropped a case of ribs on him. The incident allegedly resulted in severe injuries for Lockhart. The plaintiff asserts that Restaurant Depot had a duty to maintain their premises safely and to ensure that employees were adequately trained to handle heavy items. “Defendant knew or should have known that their premises would be walked upon by numerous invitees,” the complaint states, emphasizing the responsibility of Restaurant Depot to secure their walkways and properly train their staff.

Lockhart claims that due to the negligence of Restaurant Depot and its employees, he suffered serious and permanent bodily injuries. The lawsuit details various damages including pain and suffering, mental anguish, past and future medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of future earning capacity, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. These injuries are described as either permanent or continuing in nature.