A recent court filing has thrust a major retail giant into the spotlight over allegations of negligence leading to severe injuries. On July 18, 2024, Roy Canterbury filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 6th Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, against Wal-Mart Stores East, LP., and John Doe, a manager at one of its locations.

The case centers around an incident that occurred on February 15, 2024. According to the complaint, Canterbury visited a Wal-Mart store located at 3501 34th St S in St. Petersburg as a business invitee. While on the premises, he tripped and fell due to an object sticking out of a freezer. The plaintiff alleges that this hazardous condition was a direct result of Wal-Mart’s negligence in maintaining safe conditions for its patrons.

Canterbury’s complaint outlines several specific accusations against Wal-Mart and its employees. It states that the company failed to maintain its grounds in a reasonably safe condition and neglected to correct or warn about the dangerous situation despite having—or should have had—knowledge of it. “By carelessly and negligently failing to maintain the grounds on its premises in a reasonably safe condition,” the complaint reads, “Defendant created a dangerous condition… including specifically, the Plaintiff.”