A Pinellas County woman has filed a lawsuit against a major retail pharmacy chain, alleging negligence that led to her injury. Naena Tripp filed the complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County, Florida, on July 25, 2024, naming Holiday CVS, LLC, and an unknown store manager as defendants.
According to the court documents, Naena Tripp claims she was shopping at a CVS Pharmacy located at 5801 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg on October 14, 2022. While walking through one of the store aisles, she tripped over a box full of merchandise that was sticking out into the aisle. This unexpected obstacle caused her to fall and sustain significant injuries. The complaint states that both Holiday CVS and the unknown store manager had actual or constructive knowledge of this hazardous condition but failed to take appropriate action to remedy it or warn customers.
The lawsuit outlines several accusations against Holiday CVS and its store manager. Tripp alleges that they negligently failed to maintain the premises in a safe condition by allowing the box to obstruct the aisle. She also accuses them of failing to inspect the premises adequately and not warning her about the danger posed by the box. Furthermore, Tripp claims that they did not correct or remove this hazardous condition despite having sufficient time to do so.
"Defendants had actual knowledge of the box full of merchandise sticking out into the store aisle on the business premises," reads one part of the complaint. "Alternatively, the box full of merchandise sticking out into the store aisle on the business premises existed for such a length of time that, in the exercise of reasonable care, Defendants should have known about it had Defendants exercised reasonable care."
Tripp is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for her injuries which include pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, permanent scarring, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, loss of earnings and earning capacity, and aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The lawsuit demands a jury trial to determine these damages.
Representing Naena Tripp is attorney James Goodnow from Morgan & Morgan P.A., based in Tampa. The case is presided over by Judge Ken Burke under Case Number 24-0033 16-CI.