A California jury has awarded $850,000 to a plaintiff who allegedly slipped on a trail of liquid on a restaurant floor.
Facts and Allegations
Jorge Perez alleged that he was leaving a restroom at Hibachi Buffet, a restaurant in Inglewood, California, when he slipped, fell, and was injured.
Mr. Perez sued, alleging that he had slipped on a trail of liquid that was leading down the long hallway to the kitchen.
His counsel contended that the trail of liquid was created by one of the restaurant's employees, who used the hallway to access the kitchen, and that the floor was slippery when wet. Counsel also contended that there was no way to see the liquid before Mr. Perez fell, as it blended into the ground.
Defense counsel argued that there was no way to prove that the liquid came from one of the restaurant's employees or that a bussing cart had created the liquid within the time that Mr. Perez was in the restroom.
Result
The jury found that Hibachi Buffet was negligent in the maintenance of its premises. It did not find Mr. Perez negligent.
The jury determined that Mr. Perez's damages totaled $850,000, which was less than Hibachi Buffet's $1 million insurance policy limits.
The case is Perez v. Hibachi Buffet, No. BC659957 (Cal. Super. Ct. L.A. Co. Oct. 7, 2019). Attorneys involved include: Daniel K. Kramer; Kramer Holcomb Sheik, LLP; for Jorge Perez; Teresa A. Johnson; Kramer Holcomb Sheik, LLP; for Jorge Perez; Frank T. Sabaitis; Yee & Associates; Pasadena, CA for Hibachi Buffet.
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Steven A. Meyerowitz
Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].