PREMISES LIABILITY

BROWARD CIRCUIT COURT

A Fort Lauderdale jury ruled a supermarket was not liable for a shopper's claimed injuries.

In 2012, Katherine Decker, 51, was at a Publix Super Market in Tamarac. While in the dairy aisle, she lost her balance and fell. She was diagnosed with a cartilage tear in her left wrist, a torn medial meniscus in her left knee, and bulges and herniations at several spinal discs. She had multiple surgeries. Decker claimed the store failed to clear away a slippery substance promptly. Both sides argued over whether a video showed a customer dropping something which was not cleared away.

A manager and employee testified they saw nothing on the floor, and the store argued Decker simply tripped. Publix was found not liable.

Case: Decker v. Publix Super Markets

Case: CACE15002359

Plaintiffs attorneys: Raymond R. Dieppa, Florida Legal, Miami; and Christopher W. Wadsworth, Wadsworth Law, Miami

Defense attorneys: H. Wayne Clark Jr. and Jason A. Glusman, Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy & Ford, Fort Lauderdale