Elderly woman blames fractured hip on upturned mat at Goodwill

An 83-year-old woman has filed suit against Goodwill, saying she fractured her hip while shopping at the store after tripping over an upturned floor mat.

Earlene Laurent filed suit March 3 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Mehrs/Missouri Goodwill Industries and Cintas Corporation.

According to the complaint, Laurent and her two daughters were shopping at the Goodwill at 1719 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton on April 5, 2012, when she pushed a cart over a floor mat at one of the cash registers.

“Unbeknownst to plaintiff, the floor mat turned up or otherwise buckled,” the suit states. “As a result thereof, the plaintiff tripped on the floor mat.”

Because of the incident, Laurent sustained severe and permanent injuries, including a fractured left hip and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaint says. Laurent claims she also incurred medical costs, has been unable to perform her normal activities, endured disability, lost her normal life and suffered disfigurement.

Laurent blames Goodwill and its cleaning contractor, Cintas, for causing her injuries, saying they negligently failed to properly maintain their floor mats for their customers, used floor mats that would move while in use, failed to use slip resistant floor mats and failed to routinely and properly inspect the floor mats, among other negligent acts.

Laurent is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs. She is being represented by Michael P. Glisson of Williamson, Webster, Falb and Glisson in Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 14-L-338.