AISLE SEE YOU IN COURT
Mum sues supermarket giant for $660k after allegedly slipping on banana – and says she’s ripe for it
A GOLD Coast mother is suing a supermarket giant for $660,000 because she allegedly slipped on a mushy banana left on the floor and hurt herself.
The fall left her with a “restricted” ability to work, it is claimed in court documents.
Kristy Renee Atley alleges she was holding her eightweek-old newborn when she slipped on the fruit and fell in the soft drink aisle at Woolworths at Carrara on July 4, 2017. The baby was not hurt.
It is alleged in court documents filed in the Southport District Court the slip left her with ankle injuries – including a ruptured tendon – and lumbar spine and psychiatric injuries.
“(Ms Atley) is permanently restricted in her ability to return to work as a teacher’s aide or as a housekeeper,” it is claimed in the court documents.
A spokeswoman for Woolworths said the supermarket chain intended to fight the claim but declined to comment further while the matter was before the courts.
According to Ms Atley’s allegations in court documents, the 38-year-old was unemployed at the time but planned to return to work when her child was three-months-old.
“My family and I now survive on Centrelink payments as I have no income,” Ms Atley told the Bulletin in a written statement from her lawyers.
“I used to be an energetic person who enjoyed dancing, rollerblading and working out. I can’t do any of that anymore and all because nobody bothered to clean up a spill in a supermarket.”
Ms Atley alleges she still cannot walk properly despite having surgery and rehabilitation.
Her lawyer, Amanda Gilmour of Shine Lawyers, said the single mum had been working two jobs until she gave birth and was now “unable to earn a living” to support her children.
“Despite having surgery on her right ankle, Ms Atley still has a limp and an abnormal gait, which impacts her quality of life,” she said.
“Woolworths did not have an adequate system of identifying and removing substances from the ground and as a result of their negligence, our client has sustained a serious injury which has had devastating consequences on all aspects of her life and she deserves to be adequately compensated for her injuries.”
Court documents do not say how long it is alleged the banana was left on the floor.