A Pennsylvania woman has taken legal action against a major grocery chain, alleging negligence that led to her sustaining severe injuries. On January 23, 2025, Marla Oatneal filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Giant Eagle, Inc., accusing the company of failing to maintain safe premises at one of its Pittsburgh locations.
According to the complaint filed by Oatneal's attorneys from Chaffin Luhana LLP, the incident occurred on May 27, 2024. Oatneal claims she was shopping for groceries at Giant Eagle's store on Wharton Street when she slipped and fell due to a liquid spill that had not been cleaned up. The lawsuit asserts that Giant Eagle knew or should have known about this hazardous condition and failed to address it promptly. "The Defendant was responsible for the care, custody, control, operation, maintenance, and supervision of all areas," including product coolers and walkways where the accident happened.
Oatneal accuses Giant Eagle of multiple acts of negligence: failing to clean up the spill, not warning customers about it, inadequate employee training and supervision regarding spill management, and lacking proper policies for monitoring and cleaning spills. As a result of these alleged failures, Oatneal suffered serious injuries including pain in her right knee with potential soft tissue or ligament damage, worsening arthritis in her knee, swelling and tenderness extending to her thigh and calf, as well as other yet-to-be-determined injuries. The complaint details how these injuries have caused her significant inconvenience and mental anguish while impairing her general health and vitality.
In seeking justice through this lawsuit, Oatneal requests compensatory damages from Giant Eagle for medical expenses already incurred and anticipated future costs related to her injuries. She also seeks compensation for non-economic damages such as loss of enjoyment of life’s pleasures due to her physical limitations. Additionally, she asks for pre-judgment and post-judgment interest along with any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Marla Oatneal are attorneys Mark Malone (PA Bar No. 314314), Eric Chaffin (PA Bar No. 78725), and Patrick Booth (PA Bar No. 202200) from Chaffin Luhana LLP based in Pittsburgh. The case is set before an arbitration docket in Allegheny County under Case ID B4BD6B38-2A85-46A6-BA04-A9D0BF CCC617.