In a compelling legal battle, a Florida resident has taken action against a major supermarket chain, claiming negligence led to her severe injuries. Chantel Jelks filed the complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on February 11, 2025, against Publix Super Markets, Inc.
The lawsuit arises from an incident that occurred on May 6, 2024, when Chantel Jelks was shopping at Publix Store 1300 located at 1921 N Belcher Rd., Clearwater. According to the complaint, Jelks slipped and fell on a foreign liquid substance—specifically water—that was present on the floor of the store. The lawsuit asserts that this substance was non-obvious and constituted a hidden danger to invitees like Jelks. As an invitee on the premises, Jelks argues that Publix had several non-delegable duties towards her safety. These included inspecting common areas for unsafe conditions, maintaining public areas in a safe condition, and warning invitees of any known dangers.
Jelks accuses Publix of breaching its duty of care by failing to implement reasonable inspection policies for public areas and allowing them to remain unsafe. She further claims that Publix did not maintain the premises safely at the time of her fall and failed to warn her about the dangerous condition they knew or should have known existed. The complaint emphasizes that Publix either knew or should have known about this recurring hazardous condition due to its regular occurrence and foreseeability.
As a direct result of what she alleges as negligence by Publix Super Markets, Inc., Jelks reports suffering from bodily injury accompanied by pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life’s pleasures along with financial burdens such as hospitalization expenses and medical care costs. Additionally noted are aggravation of pre-existing conditions alongside losses related to earnings capacity which are described as permanent with future implications.
Chantel Jelks seeks judgment against Publix Super Markets for damages exceeding $50,000—exclusive of interests—and demands trial by jury while requesting post-judgment interest along with other reliefs deemed appropriate by law.
Representing Chantel Jelks is attorney Christopher L. Hamblen from Law Offices located at 615 South Missouri Avenue in Clearwater who can be reached via email at lit@hambleninjurylaw.com or phone number (727) 562-9677; meanwhile no information regarding defense counsel has been provided yet within case documentation bearing ID:25-000630-CI overseen under jurisdictional purview within Pinellas County’s judicial circuit system framework established throughout Florida’s state governance structure