Grocery store slip-and-fall subject of personal injury lawsuit

A Philadelphia woman who slipped and fell on a puddle of water inside a city grocery store is suing the business and others for injuries she sustained because of the accident.

Philadelphia attorney Samuel F. Kafrissen, of the Law Offices of Samuel F. Kafrissen, P.C., filed the premises liability lawsuit July 6 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Alice Clarke.

The defendants named in the lawsuit are The Fresh Grocer and Fresh Grocer Holdings, LLC, Great Valu, and Baltimore Avenue Foods, LLC.

According to the lawsuit, Clarke was shopping at the Great Valu store at 5740 Baltimore Ave. in Philadelphia the morning of Aug. 1, 2009, when she suddenly slipped and fell due to water that had accumulated on the floor near the store’s freezer.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of negligence in allowing a wet and slippery substance to remain in an area traversed by members of the public.

It also faults the defendants for failing to warn shoppers of the hazardous and dangerous condition inside the store.

As a result of her fall, Clarke sustained various physical injuries, including, but not limited to, lumbar sprain and strain, left knee strain and sprain, a left shoulder contusion, neurologic and orthopedic injuries and aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The suit alleges that Clarke has been required to expend monies to treat her injuries, and also that she continues to suffer from “agonizing aches, pains and mental anguish.”

Furthermore, the complaint states that Clarke has been unable to perform her occupation and usual duties because of her injuries.

Clarke demands judgment against the defendants, jointly and/or severally, in an amount not in excess of the arbitration limits, or $50,000.

The non-jury case is scheduled for arbitration in early March 2012.

The case number is 110700228.