Navigation Customer Alleges Negligence Against Retail Giant Over Slip-and-Fall Incident
A slip-and-fall incident at a major retail store has led to a legal battle in Palm Beach County, Florida. Helen Atkinson filed a complaint on October 9, 2024, against Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, and its store manager Dakota Doe. The lawsuit was submitted in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on June 29, 2023, at a Wal-Mart store located at 4375 Belvedere Rd in West Palm Beach. Atkinson claims she was shopping as a business invitee when she slipped on nacho cheese from a broken jar in aisle 19. The plaintiff asserts that this fall resulted from negligence by both Wal-Mart and its store manager, Dakota Doe. According to the complaint, Wal-Mart failed to maintain safe conditions in the store’s aisles and neglected to warn Atkinson about the hazardous condition. The lawsuit states that “the Defendant failed to properly maintain and examine the floors,” leading to Atkinson’s injuries.
Atkinson accuses Wal-Mart of breaching its duty of care by not ensuring aisle 19 was free from dangerous conditions. She argues that if reasonable care had been exercised, the hazard would have been identified and addressed before causing harm. Additionally, Atkinson claims that Dakota Doe, as the store manager responsible for aisle 19, did not perform necessary inspections or remove dangerous substances from the floor. The complaint highlights Doe’s failure to take “reasonable precautions” as contributing to her injuries.
