Save-A-Lot customer claims injuries in tripping near bathroom entrance

A woman has filed suit against a grocery store, alleging she fell over a 4x4 post as she was trying to enter the restroom.

Barbara Harris says she was shopping at the Columbia Save-A-Lot on Nov. 3, 2007, when she felt the urge to use a restroom.

After an employee directed Harris to the warehouse portion of the store where the bathrooms were located, Harris tripped over a 4x4 post that had been laid and horizontally bolted to the floor, according to the complaint filed June 8 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Because of her fall, Harris sustained pain of her body and mind, incurred medical costs and lost sums of money she would have otherwise been able to earn, the suit states.

Save-A-Lot negligently placed a 4x4 post in a dimly lit area in a location where they knew patrons would walk, failed to warn patrons of the post, failed to provide a safe and unobstructed way to enter the restroom and directed a customer to the restroom when the conditions were unsafe, the complaint says.

Harris is seeing a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Samuel A. Mormino Jr. of Mormino, Velloff, Edmonds and Snider in Alton will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-580.