The fifth Defendant is found only 49% at fault or less, the Plaintiff is awarded nothing. Mind. Code Ann. 5 34-11-2-4 Sec. 4. States that “An action for injury to person or character, injury to personal property; or forfeiture of penalty given by statute; must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues.
Statement of Facts
Samaritan Smith was shopping at a local grocery store in Indiana a few months ago and had an accident. She slipped and fell on some shampoo that had leaked out of one of the bottles.
The day Samaritan fell, the employee in charge of the aisle inspection was an older gentleman with glasses. The shampoo on the floor was a clear gel. The store alleges that Samaritan had a duty to avoid the spill in the aisle. The store claims that she is at much as fault as they are. Further, they allege that she was too distracted by her 2-year-old son in the cart, who was misbehaving, to notice the floor.
Question Presented
Can Samaritan recover for her injuries under Indiana law? Can the grocery store be liable for Cantata’s injuries under Indiana law?
Brief Answer
Ms. Smith can recover but will need many months of physical therapy. Not 100% reliable. Applicable statute- Mind. Code Ann. 5 34-11-2-sec. 4. States that “An action for (1) injury to person or character, (2) injury to personal property; or (3) forfeiture of penalty given by statute; must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues
Discussion
The Indiana grocery store can deny that they were at fault by saying Ms. Smith was too distracted by her son and could have seen the spill on the floor.
This brings up a comparative fault that can allow a jury to consider. If Ms. Smith says that she was at part fault, then the jury can find a percentage of fault to go to both parties.
Conclusion
The grocery store denies that they are at fault, they can say that she had seen the shampoo, was distracted by her son, and avoided it, it will be tough to argue that case only because it was just checked at 1: app. M. Also we can argue that the spill was clear which is tough to see on the floor and that that looks down while shopping for groceries on the floor.
