Gas station customer sues after slip and fall incident

NEW ORLEANS - A Tangipahoa resident has filed a lawsuit against a Hammond gas station claiming she was not warned about a wet floor which caused her to slip and fall.

Janice M. George filed suit against The Pantry Inc. d/b/a Kangaroo Express on Sept. 28 in Tangipahoa Parish District Court. The defendant removed the case to federal court in New Orleans on Oct. 25.

The alleged incident occurred on July 13, 2012 as George was at the Kangaroo Express gas station located on North Puma Drive in Hammond.  As she entered the store to use the restroom, she slipped and fell on the wet floor. According to the lawsuit, there were no warning signs in the area.

The defendant is accused of negligence for failing to give warnings of the dangerous condition, failing to properly inspect and maintain the area in question to discover the dangerous condition, failing to warn of inherent dangers associated with things under its guard, custody and control, failing to do what was necessary to keep the floor dry, failing to provide a safe service area for its customers, failing to properly supervise and instruct its employees to discovery, report and remedy defects in the premises and for allowing a hazardous condition or defect to exist, which presented an unreasonably risk of harm to its customer.

George is seeking an award of damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental pain and anguish, physical disability, physical disfigurement and scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, interest, and court costs.

The plaintiff is represented by George B. Recile of Chehardy, Sherman, Ellis, Murrary, Recile, Griffith, Stakelum & Hayes in Metairie and Troy R. Keller in Metairie. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:12-cv-02589