PITTSBURGH — A truck driver alleges a dangerously packed trailer picked up from a Dollar Tree distribution center caused loose goods to fall on him and cause injuries.
Robert Kowalkoski filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Dollar Tree Stores Inc., doing business as Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Stores and others alleging negligence.
Kowalkoski was working as a truck driver for Knight Transportation on Sept. 28, 2020, according to his suit. He alleges he was provided a loaded trailer unit to deliver goods from one of the defendants' distribution centers in Marengo, Ohio, to a Dollar Tree in Pittsburgh.
He further alleges that the loaded trailer was "erratically arranged", "unevenly distributed" and "poorly balanced" which caused heavy cases of loose goods to suddenly and forcefully fall on him as he entered the trailer. Kowalkoski claims the defendants' negligence for creating a hazardous condition, failing to properly inspect the packed goods and loaded trailers and failed to warn him of the dangerous condition. He also claims the defendants violated is own safety requirements related to packing and loading the pallets and trailers.
Kowalkoski seeks monetary relief of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. He is represented by Ryan Michaleski of Ostroff Law PC in Blue Bell.