A serious slip-and-fall incident at a local grocery store has led to a legal battle that could set a precedent for customer safety standards. Shamika Pinkney filed a complaint against Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on March 6, 2025. The lawsuit accuses the defendant of negligence following an accident that occurred in one of its stores.
The incident took place on July 30, 2023, when Pinkney visited the Winn-Dixie Store located at 3327 9th Street North in St. Petersburg, Florida. As she entered the restroom, she slipped and fell due to a large puddle of water caused by overflowing toilets. This fall resulted in severe injuries for Pinkney. According to the complaint, an employee or agent of Winn-Dixie was informed immediately after the incident and an official report was documented.
Pinkney's lawsuit claims that Winn-Dixie had a duty to maintain a safe environment for its patrons and failed to do so by not addressing foreseeable dangers such as water accumulation from overflowing toilets. The complaint states that "Defendant knew or should have known" about the hazardous condition and that their failure to properly maintain the restroom area created an unreasonable risk of injury. Furthermore, it alleges that Winn-Dixie negligently failed to train its employees adequately on maintaining restroom safety and preventing slip hazards.
As a result of this alleged negligence, Pinkney suffered multiple damages including bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of earnings, and medical expenses. She contends these losses are either permanent or will continue into the future. The plaintiff is seeking judgment against Winn-Dixie for all damages permitted under Florida law along with costs and interest.
Representing Shamika Pinkney are attorneys Dennis M. Hudson Jr., Chris M. Limberopoulos, and Steve Rawls from The Florida Law Group based in Tampa, Florida. The case is identified under Case Number: 25-001072-CI.