A Florida resident has filed a lawsuit against a major convenience store chain and its property manager, alleging severe injuries due to unsafe conditions at a gas station. Kristen Bennett filed the complaint in the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on June 3, 2024, naming 7-Eleven Inc. and 10200 Okeechobee, LLC as defendants.
According to the court documents, Bennett claims that on July 24, 2023, she drove into the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store located at 10651 Southern Blvd in West Palm Beach. As she stepped out of her vehicle near gasoline pump number three, she slipped and fell into a large puddle of gasoline. The fall resulted in significant injuries that have had lasting impacts on her physical and mental well-being. Bennett asserts that both defendants failed to maintain the area around the gasoline pumps in a reasonably safe condition and did not warn of latent or concealed dangers.
The lawsuit outlines multiple allegations against both defendants. For instance, it is claimed that 10200 Okeechobee, LLC., which operated the specific 7-Eleven store where the incident occurred, had a duty to ensure the safety of their premises but neglected this responsibility. "The area around the gasoline pumps was not reasonably safe due to an abundance of spilled gasoline," states one part of the complaint. Similarly, Bennett accuses 7-Eleven Inc. of failing to uphold their duty to maintain safe conditions at their gas stations and not providing adequate warnings about potential hazards.
Bennett's injuries are described as severe and long-lasting. She lists damages including permanent personal injuries within a reasonable degree of medical probability, pain and suffering (both past and future), mental anguish, physical limitations and impairments, decreased capacity for enjoyment of life, loss of earnings (past and future), loss of future earning capacity, medical expenses for treatment (past and future), and aggravation of pre-existing conditions.
In her lawsuit, Bennett seeks judgment against both defendants for all damages afforded by Florida law. This includes costs associated with her injuries such as medical expenses and lost wages as well as interest accrued before and after judgment. Additionally, she demands a jury trial on all issues so triable.
Representing Kristen Bennett are attorneys John C. Distasio and Chris Limberopoulos from The Florida Law Group based in Tampa. The case will be presided over by judges from the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Palm Beach County under Case Number: 502024CA005157XXXAMB Div: AN.