PITTSBURGH – Giant Eagle discounts all liability for injuries suffered by a Western Pennsylvania man, who claims that a company employee collided into him while pushing a cart full of products in a Getgo supermarket in Pittsburgh, leading him to fall and become seriously injured.
Michael Connolly of Oakmont first filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 9 versus Giant Eagle, Inc. (doing business as “Getgo”) and Chad Fink of Pittsburgh, plus Pepsi Co., Inc. of Purchase, N.Y.
“On June 11, 2020, at approximately 11:30 a.m., plaintiff was a business invitee, licensee and/or otherwise legally on defendants’ premises. While on defendants’ premises of the Getgo, the plaintiff was struck by a Pepsi Co., Inc. employee pushing a dolly cart of products, located near the entrance/exit. The contact caused plaintiff to fall to the ground, causing serious and permanent personal injuries,” the suit stated.
“As a direct and consequential result of the negligent and/or careless conduct of the defendants, the plaintiff sustained injuries, including, but not limited to, tearing of the supraspinatus tendon, at humeral head attachment of the left shoulder, as well as injuries to the left leg.”
The plaintiff said the defendants’ collective negligence was the proximate cause of his injuries.
“As a result of these injuries, all or some of which may permanent in nature, and all of which are to plaintiff’s great financial detriment and loss; Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer great anguish, pain, sickness, agony, and embarrassment,” per the suit.
“As a result of defendant’s negligence and carelessness, as aforesaid, plaintiff has suffered permanent scarring and disfigurement. As an additional result of the carelessness and negligence of defendant, plaintiff has suffered emotional injuries, along with the physical injuries suffered. As a further result of plaintiff’s injuries, plaintiff suffered a loss of earnings and/or earning capacity, all to plaintiff’s further loss and detriment.”
UPDATE
Giant Eagle’s counsel responded with an answer to the case and new matter on March 18, denying the substantive allegations made by the plaintiff as conclusions of law to which no formal response was required.
“Defendants, Giant Eagle and Chad Fink incorporate the preceding paragraphs by reference as though the same were fully set forth herein. Plaintiff has failed to state a claim against Giant Eagle or Chad Fink upon which relief can be granted. At all times relevant and material to this matter, the agents, employees, servants, workers, and/or representatives of Giant Eagle were not negligent and acted with reasonable, ordinary and prudent care and skill,” the new matter said, in part.
“The incident described in plaintiff’s complaint and the injuries and damages allegedly sustained by plaintiff may have resulted from the intentional acts, negligent acts and/or conduct of third parties or entities which intentional or negligent acts or conduct may have constituted an intervening or superseding cause and that these persons or entities were not agents, workers, representatives, servants, tenants or employees of the defendants and were not acting in the course or scope of any employment with defendants.”
On March 22, plaintiff counsel replied to the new matter with a blanket denial.
“The allegations in these paragraphs are legal conclusions to which no response is required pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. To the extent the allegations are deemed to be factual, those allegations are specifically denied, and strict proof thereof is demanded at trial. To the extent these allegations attempt to interpret, discuss or characterize Pennsylvania substantive or statutory law, the law speaks for itself and any interpretation, discussion or characterization of the law by defendants is specifically denied,” per the reply.
For multiple counts of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $35,000, plus all costs, other relief the Court deems just and a trial by jury.
The plaintiff is represented Marc I. Simon of Simon & Simon, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants are represented by Paul M. Mannix of Marcus & Shapira, also in Pittsburgh.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-20-012461
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com