A SHOPPER has sued Costco for $14 million after claiming she was left with permanent injuries after a mishap inside a store.
She suffered a traumatic brain injury after she was hit by a heavy item “without warning,” according to her lawsuit.
Sadie Novotny of California filed the lawsuit on April 29, claiming she suffered “multiple, permanent and catastrophic” injuries.
Novotny said she was shopping at the Santa Rosa Costco with her husband on March 22 when she was injured.
The couple was checking out a heavy liquor cabinet they wanted to buy when the floor model fell “without warning,” according to the lawsuit.
Novotny caught the cabinet and pushed it backward but immediately felt pain set in, the papers state.
Her right shoulder, forearm, hand, fingers, and lower back began to hurt, according to an internal Costco report attached to the complaint.
She claims she was left with a head injury and a traumatic brain injury.
Novotny has accused Costco of being negligent by failing to properly manage its store merchandise.
The shopper also insists the retail giant “negligently failed to train, manage and supervise their employees,” according to the suit.
LAWSUIT DAMAGES
Novotny is additionally taking legal action against Costco under premises liability, which is a legal term that pertains to a property owner’s duty to ensure safety and prevent injuries on their premises.
The lawsuit claims the cabinet was in a “dangerous and/or precarious position.”
This was partly due to its “thin legs” and placement on a “worn wooden pallet,” the court documents state.
She also accused Costco of products liability, which refers to defective consumer items.
Novotny is seeking a total of $14,110,000 in damages.
This includes $5 million for alleged emotional distress and another $5 million for pain, suffering, and inconvenience.
She said she’s already spent $50,000 on medical expenses and expects a further $2 million in costs for her care.
She’s also seeking $2 million for loss of future earning capacity with loss of earnings to date at $50,000.
Finally, $10,000 is requested for loss of household services.
The lawsuit was initially filed in California Superior Court for Alameda County.
Costco’s legal team filed a request to move the case to the United States District Court for Northern California, and a judge approved this request on June 5, as reported by USA Today.
Costco didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Woman Sues Costco
A shopper has sued Costco for $14 million while claiming an in-store mishap left her with permanent injuries.
- $5 million for emotional distress
- $5 million for pain, suffering and inconvenience
- $2 million for future medical expenses
- $2 million for loss of future earning capacity
- $50,000 for medical expenses to date
- $50,000 for loss of earnings to date
- $10,000 for loss of household services
Source: USA Today
