From promptly cleaning up spills to mending uneven walkways, patrons trust that businesses will exercise a reasonable amount of care to prevent accidents. But when a potentially hazardous situation goes unnoticed or ignored and someone gets injured, typically the injured individual seeks compensation.
In multiple lawsuits filed recently in Platte County, persons who have been injured in accidents have brought lawsuits against local businesses claiming the accident was a result of the negligence of others.
The most recent personal-injury lawsuit was filed against O’Malley’s Pub at 500 Welt Street in Weston. According to the four-page lawsuit, Dennis Ditch, 74, of Garden City, fell when he stepped on ice cubes that were allegedly on a ramp at the Irish pub.
The lawsuit claims that the property where the slip and fall took place created a dangerous condition which was “not reasonably safe” for patrons.
As the lawsuit tells it, the Irish pub was negligent for not taking action and cleaning up the alleged unsafe condition, as well as allegedly failing to warn patrons of the potentially hazardous area.
Ditch is seeking upwards of $25,000 in compensation for hospital expenses, future loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering.
Riverside Red X
Riverside Red X also finds itself facing a personal injury lawsuit involving a trip and fall. In fact, one that the suit says contributed to the death of Robert Taylor of Wyandotte County.
According to the 15-page lawsuit, Robert D. Taylor parked his vehicle in the parking lot on the east side of the grocery store and used the entrance on that side of the store. “When Robert Taylor reached the point where the ramp met the sidewalk, he stepped into a declivity which caused him to trip and fall forward on the sidewalk,” the suit says.
Robert Taylor, the suit says, suffered a brain injury, facial fractures and bruising to his right chest. The situation became bleaker–Taylor died.
Now, Taylor’s daughter, Dena Kirkpatrick, and James White who is the administrator of the Estate of Robert Taylor, have brought litigation against Red X and Guy Zeke Young Trust, accusing the defendants of failing to make the walkways “reasonably safe by removing the declivity from the sidewalk either by repair or replacement.” The lawsuit contends the grocery store’s failure to exercise due care rises to the level of negligence.
“Riverside Red X should have foreseen that the injuries of the type suffered by Robert D. Taylor would or could occur as a direct result of its failure to train” its staff to identify potentially hazardous conditions.
Attorney James Thompson with the Thompson Law Offices of North Kansas City will be representing James White and Dena Kirkpatrick is this personal-injury case.
AMC movie theater
One of the largest entertainment companies has also been hit with a personal injury lawsuit. In January, Semeria Hall, 44, of Riverside, filed a personal injury lawsuit against AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. and American Holding Cinema alleging she was injured after slipping near the self-serving drink station inside AMC Theater located at 8101 NW Roanridge Road, Kansas City in Platte County.
According to the lawsuit, the slip and fall resulted in bodily harm, requiring Hall to seek emergency medical care. The lawsuit contends the self-serving drink area was wet, which created an unsafe condition. The suit says there was no visible signage warning patrons about the potentially unsafe area.
Hall is seeking compensation for hospital expenses, lost wages and disfigurement.
As these cases slowly make their way through the litigation process, medical and employment records will be reviewed. Additionally, insurance companies may investigate the claims made against the businesses being sued. Ultimately a judge or jury will determine if the injuries occurred due to negligence. There is also the possibility that the cases will be resolved before a trial date is even determined.