Esplanade Mall store being sued by woman allegedly struck in head by security gate

GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish woman is suing a mall-based store, its insurer and an unknown employee after she was allegedly hit in the head by a pull down gate as she was exiting the store at the time of its closing.

Cecibel Hernandez Escobar filed suit against M&P Central Inc., an unknown employee and their insurer in the 24th Judicial District Court on Nov. 27. Escobar claims she was shopping at Esplanade Mall at a store called Bloom when she was informed by employees that the store was closing and she began to exit the store. The plaintiff alleges that an unknown employee began to close the overhead pull down gate on the storefront as she was exiting and it struck her in the head.

The defendant is accused of breach of a legally imposed duty of reasonable care, failing to see what should have been seen and allegedly striking the plaintiff’s body.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for mental anguish, emotional distress, pain and suffering, medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life and physical disability.

Escobar is represented by Gregory S. Johnson of Baton Rouge-based Beall & Thies, LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division G Judge Robert A. Pitre Jr.

Case no. 721-476.