An Ocala woman has filed a negligence lawsuit against Walmart, alleging she sustained a severe arm fracture after tripping over a low-lying wooden pallet left in a customer walkway.
Attorneys representing Karen Thieme filed the complaint against Walmart Inc. in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County on April 25
The lawsuit stems from an incident that allegedly occurred on December 20, 2024, at the Walmart located at 11012 N Williams Street in Dunnellon.
According to the filing, Thieme was shopping at approximately 12:00 p.m. when she tripped and fell over a low-lying, black wooden pallet. The lawsuit asserts that the pallet was partially empty, with half of it holding no merchandise, which rendered its edges “virtually invisible” to customers.
Thieme’s legal team contends that because the pallet was dark in color and low to the ground, it was not within the natural line of sight for adult shoppers approaching displays.
As a direct result of the fall, Thieme allegedly suffered a severe comminuted fracture of her right humerus shaft.
The injury allegedly required emergency ambulance transport, inpatient hospitalization, surgery involving the placement of permanent hardware, and months of physical and occupational therapy.
The complaint alleges that Walmart was negligent by failing to place cones, signage, or elevated warning markers around the pallet. Furthermore, the suit claims the “dangerous” condition was created by the store’s own agents during stocking operations, and that the pallet remained in the walkway for a length of time that the store should have discovered and removed it.
Thieme is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 for bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and loss of earnings. A jury trial has also been requested.