A slip-and-fall incident at a grocery store has led to a legal battle that could have significant implications for customer safety standards in retail environments. On February 26, 2025, William Desantis filed a complaint against Giant Eagle, Inc. in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit stems from an incident on June 10, 2024, when Desantis claims he slipped and fell on a liquid substance while shopping at a Giant Eagle store located in Erie, Pennsylvania.
According to the complaint filed by Desantis through his attorneys at Chaffin Luhana LLP, the defendant, Giant Eagle, Inc., is accused of negligence for failing to maintain safe premises for its customers. The plaintiff alleges that the grocery chain did not clean up the hazardous liquid or provide adequate warning about the potential danger it posed. Furthermore, Desantis asserts that Giant Eagle failed to properly train and supervise its employees regarding spill management and neglected to implement effective policies for monitoring and addressing such hazards.
The consequences of this alleged negligence were severe for Desantis. He suffered multiple injuries including a concussion, upper back pain, post-concussion symptoms, and ongoing head pain. These injuries have reportedly led to significant medical expenses and long-term impacts on his quality of life. "Plaintiff has been permanently scarred and disfigured," states the complaint, emphasizing the lasting effects of the incident.
Desantis is seeking compensatory damages from Giant Eagle to cover his medical costs and other related expenses. The relief sought includes actual economic and non-economic damages to be determined at trial, as well as pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. Additionally, Desantis demands a jury trial should any party appeal the arbitration decision.
Representing William Desantis 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, Pennsylvania. The case has been assigned Case ID CVPDD008S356F398 under the jurisdiction of Allegheny County's Court of Common Pleas.