Publix Lawsuit Roundup

David B. Datny, Esq. and The Datny Law Firm in Boca Raton, Wellington, and Winter Park proudly represent accident victims hurt at Publix Supermarkets throughout Florida from Key West to Miami Beach to Naples all the way to Orlando and beyond.

Publix has over 1,423 stores nationwide and approximately 888 stores in Florida. It is the second largest supermarket chain operating in Florida. It is an employee-owned ESOP or Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The average store size is 45,000 to 50,000 square feet and contains a deli counter serving Publix’ famous Pubsub, butcher, bakery, produce section, seafood counter, floral cart, dairy section along with other pantry items.

With such a large footprint and stocking thousands of different products on shelves, in the aisles, in refrigeration units or elsewhere, accidents are bound to happen. Publix Supermarket accidents include trip and falls on broken flooring, slip and falls on spilled liquid, dog bites, falling product resulting in head injuries from improper stacking or broken shelving, defective shopping cart injuries not to mention falls outside the store or in the parking lot from potholes or crashes caused by Publix 18 wheelers.

As you can see from the below list of recent lawsuits against Publix, the most common type of Publix Super Market accident is slip and fall. Regardless of the injury causing condition, the basis of the lawsuit remains the same. Publix caused and created the dangerous or slippery condition and/or knew or should have known of the hazard had it exercised the appropriate level of care in operating the store. In many cases, the allegation is that Publix failed to keep the store safe or warn customers of known hazards. This is often due to Publix’ failure to implement its own internal policies and procedures or adequately train its employees to do the same resulting in hazardous conditions existing for an extended period of time that injure innocent customers.

• Slip & Fall –Wet Floors (June 2024): Terusa Gray filed a lawsuit against Public Super Markets in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on June 28, 2024. The case is for personal injuries following a May 24, 2023, slip and fall accident at the Publix store located at 6330 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter, Florida. The Plaintiff fell on wet floor that was slippery inside the Publix Supermarket. According to the Complaint, Publix failed to maintain the premises in a safe and reasonable condition. Furthermore, it is alleged Publix failed to warn the Plaintiff of the hazardous condition or place warnings signs or cones or other barriers around the wet floor which contributed to her accident. As a result of the fall, the Plaintiff sustained physical injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering as well as lost earnings. 
• Foreign Object Injury (June 2024): Dexter Bostick sustained personal injuries when he bit down on and swallowed an unknown foreign object inside an ice cream he purchased at Publix Super Markets on October 10, 2023, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. As a result of the incident, Mr. Bostick filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on June 19, 2024 against Publix and others. He is seeking over $50,000 in damages for injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering and other losses.
• Trip & Fall – Debris (June 2024) Holly Hazellief had an accident with injury on April 7, 2024, at the Publix Super Market located at 1700 34th Street N., St. Petersburg, Florida. Allegedly the Plaintiff tripped and fell over a clear water jug container that was left unattended in the aisle, which resulted in personal injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost earnings. She filed a negligence lawsuit against Publix on June 18, 2024 in Pinellas County Circuit Court for damages in excess of $50,000.
• Slip & Fall – Puddle (June 2024) Cory Douglas slipped and fell in a puddle of an unknown liquid substance inside Publix at 525 S. Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida on September 26, 2022. He sustained various personal injuries and other damages in excess of $50,000. Mr. Douglas filed a lawsuit against Publix in Pinellas County Circuit Court claiming, in substance, negligent ownership, operation, inspection and maintenance of the premises including failing to keep the same in a safe condition or warn of dangerous conditions.  The case is pending. 
• Slip & Fall – Clear Liquid Substance (May 2024): Erwin Wuzella filed a negligence lawsuit against Publix Super Markets in Broward County Circuit Court on May 22, 2024 for personal injuries and other damages in excess of $50,000. In sum, Plaintiff alleges he slipped and fell on clear liquid substance inside the Publix store located at 1339 West Palmetto Park Road, in Boca Raton, Florida on September 15, 2023. The liquid was clear and allegedly blended into the floor making it unobservable to Plaintiff prior to the fall noting it is further alleged there were no warning signs or other notices thereat to alert customers the floor was wet or slippery. 
• Slip & Fall – Foreign Substance (April 2024): Shalanda Powell filed a lawsuit against Publix in Pinellas County Circuit Court on April 10, 2024 following a slip and fall accident with injury on August 30, 2023. In sum, Plaintiff alleges she sustained serious personal injuries and other damages after slipping and falling to the ground on a “transitory foreign substance” at or near the produce aisle. Plaintiff further claims Publix was negligent for failing to maintain the store in a safe condition among other things. 
• Slip & Fall – Bathroom Floor (April 2024): Lameasha Coleman filed a lawsuit against Publix in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on April 1, 2024. In sum, Plaintiff slipped and fell in October of 2023 on an unknown liquid substance on the floor of the lady’s bathroom inside the Publix Super Market located at 2895 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida. The Plaintiff claims personal injuries and other damages from the bathroom fall incident and further claims Publix was negligent to maintain the premises generally and specifically the bathroom in a safe condition.
• Slip & Fall – Foreign Substance (March 2024): Publix was sued in Pinellas County Circuit Court in March of 2024 for personal injuries and other damages sustained by Plaintiff, Christopher Craft, following a slip and fall accident. Plaintiff alleges he slipped and fell on a “transitory foreign substance” on the floor at or near the registers and a refrigerated cooler thereat. It is further alleged Publix was negligent in maintaining the store, allowing it to be unsafe and for failing to warn of potential hazards. 

The above list is just a small sampling of recent Publix injury lawsuits filed in Florida. It is by no means complete or exhaustive of the type or quantity of accidents that happen at Publix. But no matter how your Publix accident happened, or where in Florida it took place, do not wait to consult an experienced Publix Super Market Accident Lawyer like David B. Datny. The Datny Law Firm helps victims of Publix accidents throughout the State of Florida. 

One of the most important takeaways of this article is that time is of the essence after a Publix accident with injury. For starters, important evidence may be lost if not immediately preserved. This includes photographs of the accident scene, photographs of the injury causing condition, the names and identities of witnesses, surveillance footage. 

Additionally, after a Publix accident, every moment you remain unrepresented, you risk exposure to Publix’s investigators and adjusters. They will contact you after the accident and try to extract information or other evidence from you that will be used to minimize, diminish or deny your claim. They do this under the guise of trying to help, but this is not the case. They may tell you Publix will pay for your medical treatment if you fill out certain forms or authorizations, but, again, this is not the case. The only way to get anything from Publix is through the claims and legal process. 

Finally, let this serve as a WARNING. Publix has adjusters that work around the clock. After you fall, whether at night, over the weekend or on a holiday, an adjuster will call you immediately. Many times, they will deny the claim but make a so called public relations offer of a gift card or a nominal offer of $500 in exchange for a releasee. If you accept the offer, and sign the release, your case is forever over even if you later find out your injuries are more severe than first thought. 

Hiring a lawyer immediately after your Publix accident protects you from Publix. They are no longer allowed to contact you. This preserves your claim and gives you time to figure out what your injuries are and what that is worth. 

To find out how our Florida Publix Injury Lawyer can help you, call 561-221-7474 for a consultation. There is NO FEE unless we win your case.