Legal News for Virginia Personal Injury Attorneys. A man is suing PetSmart for $1 million after he slipped in dog feces, causing him to suffer a back injury.
Virginia personal injury lawyer alerts- Plaintiff filed lawsuit after suffering back injury at PetSmart store.
Newport News, VA—PetSmart faces pending personal injury litigation after a man slipped on a pile of dog poop at the Newport News store, causing him to hurt his back and head. The lawsuit was initially filed in Norfolk Circuit Court but was eventually moved to U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The plaintiff is seeking $1 million in compensatory damages, according to information provide by PilotOnline.com on Thursday, April 1, 2010.
Robert Holloway, who was 69 when the January 18, 2009 incident happened, reportedly walked into the Jefferson Avenue PetSmart to purchase bird seed and dog food. Upon doing so, however, he stepped on a pile of dog feces and slipped. According to the personal injury attorney representing Holloway, “his body twisted violently and he smacked his head against something nearby”, subsequently knocking four the plaintiff’s false teeth out. Holloway had to undergo back surgery after the incident.
The suit alleges PetSmart was negligent in allowing customers’ pets, which are prone to having accidents, in the store. With regard to Holloway’s particular episode, the suit contends PetSmart employees should have been aware of the potentially hazardous pile of feces on the ground, or cleaned it up in a timely fashion to avoid possible injuries. While PetSmart would not comment on pending litigation, spokesperson Jessica White noted that every PetSmart store is equipped with “oops” stations for pet accidents, enabling customers to clean up after their own pets. Employees are also trained to clean up all messes.
News reports noted that this case was not the first time a customer sued PetSmart, citing a 2008 case in which a woman filed a suit after slipping in dog urine. The woman reportedly injured her knee in the incident, though the case was eventually dismissed due to the plaintiff’s failure to prove the store was negligent with regard to the accident. The case is underway.
Legal News Reporter: Sandra Quinlan- Legal News for Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers.
