Defendant's Attorney: Beaumont, Texas insurance defense lawyer represented the Defendant.

Description: Beaumont, Texas personal injury slip and fall lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued the Defendant on a premises liability negligence theory.

This case was field in the County Court at Law One, Jefferson County, TX, 0136937, and was removed to federal court by the Defendant.

Texas Premises Liability Law:

Key Principles:

Duty of care: Texas property owners or occupiers owe a duty of care to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition for invitees and licensees. This means taking reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm.
Invitees: Individuals invited onto the property for the owner's benefit (e.g., customers, guests) receive the highest duty of care. The owner must actively inspect for hazards and take steps to fix them.
Licensees: Individuals on the property with the owner's permission but not for their benefit (e.g., social guests) receive a lower duty of care. The owner must warn of known dangers and avoid creating new ones through reckless acts.
Trespassers: Generally, Texas has limited liability towards trespassers, excepting situations where:
The owner knew of their presence and failed to warn them about hidden dangers.
The owner intentionally or recklessly injured them.
The trespasser is a child and the owner had an attractive nuisance on the property (e.g., swimming pool).

Breach of Duty:

To succeed in a premises liability claim, you must prove the owner or occupier breached their duty of care. This could involve:

Failing to maintain the property in a safe condition (e.g., broken stairs, slippery floors).
Failing to warn of known dangers (e.g., unmarked construction zones, hidden potholes).
Creating a new hazard through their actions (e.g., leaving tools unattended, spilling liquids).

Proximate Cause:

The breach of duty must directly cause your injury. In simpler terms, your injury wouldn't have happened but for the owner's negligence.

Damages:

If you can prove both breach of duty and proximate cause, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Property damage

Outcome: 01/12/2024 27 NOTICE of Settlement by Lowe's Home Centers, LLC (Ferebee, William) (Entered: 01/12/2024)
01/12/2024 28 ORDERED that this case is dismissed on the merits without prejudice to the right of counsel of record to move for reinstatement within ninety (90) days upon presentation of adequate proof that final approval of the settlement could not be obtained from the respective principals for whom counsel act. Signed by District Judge Marcia A. Crone on 1/12/2024. (bjc, ) (Entered: 01/12/2024)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: