CLEARWATER — A widow is suing Home Depot and a tenant, alleging negligence in the food poisoning death of her husband.
Vera Travis, personal representative of the estate of James Travis, filed a complaint June 27 in Pinellas Circuit Court against TIWI Group Inc. and Home Depot USA Inc., alleging they failed to follow applicable safety guidelines and regulations.
According to the complaint, James Travis, 74 was a part-time employee of Home Depot, 30144 U.S Highway 19, Clearwater. The suit says on July 4, 2017, he purchased a hot dog and coleslaw from the TIWI Group. The lawsuit says he became violently ill from food poisoning and died July 8, 2017, at Florida Hospital North Pinellas.
Vera Travis says she has sustained the loss of her husband's support, services, companionship, protection, mental pain and suffering, and incurred medical and funeral expenses She blames the defendants in the selling and allowing the selling of contaminated food that resulted in food poisoning.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to discover that the food consumed by James Travis was not fit for consumption, failed to warn customers of any potential dangers that existed in the food they sell and failed to ensure that food being sold was wholesome and fit to be consumed.
Vera Travis seeks trial by jury and judgment in excess of $15,000. She is represented by attorney Joseph A. Kopacz of Morgan & Morgan Tampa PA in Tampa.
Pinellas Circuit Court case number 18-C-4305