Although her first injury complaint did not name her head, a lady has filed a lawsuit against Costco in Santa Rosa for $14 million, claiming that she suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a display falling on her.
On April 19, a psychologist named Sadie Novotny, who resides in Santa Rosa, filed a lawsuit against Costco in the Alameda County Superior Court.
However, on June 5, the case was transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of San Francisco.
The Novotny action asserts that the defendant was negligent, in addition to premises and product liability.
Novotny was a client at the Santa Rosa store on March 22 when she detailed in a complaint to Costco that the floor model of a liquor cabinet fell on top of her. This is according to the complaint that she filed.
In the incident report that she submitted to the employer, she stated that she had caught the cabinet and pushed it back. Following the collision, she said that she was experiencing pain in her right shoulder, forearm, hand, finger, and lower back.
The cabinet was allegedly “in a dangerous and/or precarious position” due to the fact that it sat on an old wooden pallet and had legs that were thinner than average, according to the complaint.
In her case, she claims that she was subjected to “multiple, permanent, and severe injuries,” which include, but are not limited to, a closed head injury and traumatic brain injury.
Claude Wyle, Novotny’s attorney, stated in an interview with her that after the display toppled, Novotny was unable to see properly, and her husband brought her to the emergency room immediately after the fall.
Wyle stated that the medical professionals present stated that she had sustained a concussion.
“She’s not doing well,” he stated.
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Based on the records filed in the court, she is requesting damages in the amount of $14.1 million.
Wyle elaborated on the enormous cost of the item.
When a complaint is served on a defendant in the state of California and the defendant does not answer to the complaint, the plaintiff has the right to file a default.
On the other hand, the clerk will declare the default invalid if you have not yet served a statement of damages.
Therefore, Wyle stated that he always includes a comprehensive explanation of damages with each case that he files, and this is done in the event that the defendant does not answer to the complaint.
And he stated that he frequently raises the amount of these damages since that is the goal he is trying to achieve.
He posed the hypothetical question, “What if in this particular scenario, his client might require extensive medical care?”
Wyle asserts that Costco possesses video of the incident, but that the retailer has not yet provided it to him.
A court appearance is planned to take place in the month of September.
