Schnucks denies liability in suit alleging slip, fall at Belleville store

The Belleville Schnucks claims a customer caused her own injuries when she failed to keep a proper lookout before allegedly slipping on a foreign substance on the floor.

Theresa Collins filed the complaint in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Schnuck Markets Inc. The suit was filed through attorneys Brady McAninch and John Hipskind of Hipskind & McAninch LLC in Belleville.

According to the complaint, Collins was at the Belleville Schnucks on Nov. 19, 2020, when she allegedly slipped on a foreign substance, causing her to fall to the floor.

Collins claims Schnucks had a duty to use reasonable care in its maintenance of the premises. She alleges the defendant failed to inspect the premises to discovery the foreign substance, negligently allowed the substance to remain on the floor and create an unreasonably dangerous condition, failed to properly maintain the area so it was a safe walking surface, and failed to provide a warning concerning the unsafe condition.

As a result, Collins claims she suffered injuries and resulting damages. She seeks a judgment in her favor in excess of $50,000.

Schnucks answered the complaint through attorney Ryan Turnage of St. Louis.

The defendant denies liability. In its affirmative arguments, Schnucks claims Collins negligently caused her own injuries by failing to exercise due care for her own safety, failing to keep a proper lookout to avoid injury and acting in a careless manner.

St. Clair County Circuit Judge William Stiehl scheduled a status conference over Zoom for Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.

This article was first published in Madison Record.

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