A Florida woman has filed a lawsuit against a local hospitality company, alleging negligence that led to severe injuries. Kathleen Folk filed the complaint on June 6, 2024, in the County Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, against Tooraz Hospitality, LLC.
According to the complaint, on June 22, 2022, Kathleen Folk was staying at a Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott hotel owned and operated by Tooraz Hospitality. While traversing from a carpeted area to a tiled floor in the hotel's dining area, she tripped and fell due to an uneven transition between the two surfaces. The fall resulted in severe and permanent injuries for Folk. She claims that Tooraz Hospitality failed to maintain the premises safely and did not warn her about the hazardous condition.
Folk's lawsuit accuses Tooraz Hospitality of breaching its duty of care by allowing an unsafe transition between carpet and tile areas. The complaint states that "Defendant negligently maintained the Subject Premises in an unsafe manner by allowing a smooth level transition from carpet to tile and tile to carpet." Additionally, it alleges that Tooraz failed to guard against or warn about this dangerous condition despite being aware or should have been aware of it through reasonable care.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. These losses are described as permanent and continuing. In addition to actual damages, Folk is also asking for pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest as allowed by law, costs and expenses of suit, and any other relief deemed just and proper by the court.
Representing Kathleen Folk is attorney William L. Clark from W. Lee Clark & Associates. The case has been assigned Case Number 24-002520-CI in front of Judge Ken Burke.