Kentucky Appeals Court Reverses Summary Judgment to Store in Customer’s Tripping Hazard case
In a recent Kentucky premises liability case, a store in which a customer tripped and fell on a pallet underneath a container of pumpkins insisted that the customer's fall was his own fault. The trial court agreed and granted summary judgment to the store. Fortunately for the customer, the appellate court understood that the question was not as simple as the store made it out to be. Yes, the large box of pumpkins was clearly visible - but the wooden pallet beneath it was not necessarily noticeable to the customer under the circumstances. Facts of the Case In a recent unpublished Kentucky Court of Appeals case, the plaintiff was a man who tripped and fell while shopping for groceries at a store in Lexington. At the time of his fall, the man was carrying a handheld shopping basket that obscured his view of the corner of the pallet upon which he tripped. The accident caused extensive injuries to the plaintiff's shoulder and knees, causing him to undergo multiple surgeries. He filed a premises liability lawsuit against the store, alleging that his injuries were a direct and proximate result of the store's negligence and failure to keep the premises safe for business invitees. He sought to recover compensation for his medical costs, his lost earnings (past and future), and his pain and suffering. The Fayette County Circuit Court granted summary judgment to the defendant and dismissed the plaintiff's personal injury action. Read More
