Navigation Plaintiff alleges negligence against supermarket chain after slip-and-fall incident
In a compelling legal battle, a Florida resident has taken on a major supermarket chain, alleging negligence that led to significant personal injuries. Cheryl Smith filed a complaint against Publix Super Markets, Inc. in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on April 17, 2025.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on August 29, 2024, when Smith visited a Publix store located at 3501 49th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL. As a business invitee, she claims she was owed a duty of care by the defendant to ensure her safety while on their premises. According to the complaint, Publix failed in this duty by not maintaining safe conditions within their store aisles. Smith alleges that this negligence resulted in her slipping and falling on produce left on the floor, leading to severe injuries.
Smith’s accusations against Publix are detailed and extensive. She contends that the supermarket was negligent in several ways: failing to maintain or adequately inspect the shopping aisle flooring; creating slip hazards; neglecting to warn patrons of potential dangers; and inadequately training staff to manage these risks. Furthermore, Smith argues that Publix did not adhere to its own safety policies and failed to provide non-slip surfaces despite knowing spills were likely.
