Businesses in California and across the country want customers to enter their stores to make purchases. However, customers have a reasonable expectation that the property will be maintained in such a way as to prevent harm to them on the premises. When negligence occurs, those who suffer harm as a result may choose to file a premises liability lawsuit, such as one woman in another state chose to do following a slip-and-fall accident.
The incident that led to the lawsuit occurred in a Walmart store. The plaintiff in the case claims that she was shopping in the store when she slipped on a liquid. Unfortunately, she reportedly fell and injured her shoulder “badly.”
A federal court determined that Walmart destroyed video evidence of the fall prior to the case going to trial in mid-October. A jury in the case did not reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. However, both sides met in mediation in November and the case was settled and dismissed in early December, with a spokesperson for the company claiming that both sides were happy with the confidential resolution they reached.
This is not the first time that Walmart has been accused of destroying evidence in a lawsuit such as this. In fact, reports indicate that the company has been sanctioned by courts at least nine times in the last five years for similar action. Unfortunately, a slip-and-fall accident can leave victims suffering as a result of injuries and facing uncertainty regarding their legal options. An attorney with experience with such cases can help victims in California ensure that they are able to meet their financial responsibilities if they are injured as a result of another’s negligence.
