Sticky Wal-Mart floor leads to woman's head injury, suit claims

A Bethalto woman who slipped and fell on a sticky substance at the Wood River Wal-Mart on May 11, 2006, filed a $50,000 personal injury suit in Madison County Circuit Court.

Shirley Van Etten alleges she suffered extensive injuries to her head, jaw, knee, hip, leg and body because Wal-Mart was negligent in maintaining its property.

"The sticky substance represented and constituted a hazardous condition to users of the Wood River Wal-Mart," states the complaint filed Aug. 22.

She claims Wal-Mart had actual knowledge of the dangerous condition and further claims that the alleged dangerous condition was part of a pattern of Wal-Mart's conduct which made the store aware of the condition.

Represented by Gregory Tobin of East Alton, Van Etten claims Wal-Mart negligently refused to safeguard patrons against hazardous conditions, refused to have sufficient staff to repair the condition, failed to place barriers restricting patrons from coming into contact with the sticky substance and failed to warn of the existence of the sticky substance.

Van Etten claims her injuries caused and will continue to cause pain and suffering, medical bills and expenses, disability, lost wages and a permanent disfigurement.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Daniel Stack.

07 L 754