Santa Rosa, CA – A woman has filed a $14 million lawsuit against Costco in Santa Rosa, claiming that a display fell on her and resulted in a traumatic brain injury, despite her initial injury report not referencing her head.
Sadie Novotny, a psychologist residing in Santa Rosa, filed a lawsuit against Costco on April 19 in Alameda County Superior Court, which was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of San Francisco on June 5.
Novotny’s lawsuit claims negligence along with issues related to premises and product liability.
In a recent complaint, Novotny recounted her experience as a customer at the Santa Rosa store on March 22, where she alleged that a floor model of a liquor cabinet collapsed onto her.
In an official incident report, she detailed how she intercepted the cabinet and maneuvered it back into place. She reported experiencing pain in her right shoulder, forearm, hand, finger, and lower back following the accident.
The complaint alleges that the cabinet found itself “in a dangerous and/or precarious position,” partly due to its thin legs and placement on a worn wooden pallet.
Her complaint alleges that she suffered “multiple, permanent and severe injuries, including, but not limited to, a closed head injury and traumatic brain injury.”
During a recent interview, attorney Claude Wyle from San Francisco revealed to KTVU that following the incident where the display collapsed, Novotny experienced blurred vision, prompting her husband to rush her directly to the emergency room.
Wyle reported that medical professionals indicated she had experienced a concussion.
“She’s not doing well,” he said.
In a recent legal development, she is pursuing $14.1 million in damages as outlined in court documents.
Wyle shed light on the steep cost.
In California, when a defendant receives a complaint and does not respond, the plaintiff has the option to pursue a default judgment. Failure to serve a statement of damages will result in the clerk rejecting the default.
Wyle stated that he routinely includes a comprehensive statement of damages with every complaint to ensure clarity if the defendant does not respond.
He mentioned that he frequently seeks substantial damages because that is his goal.
What if, in this scenario, he speculated that his client could require significant medical attention?
Costco Wholesale Corporation remains silent on the request for comment.
Wyle reports that Costco possesses video footage of the incident, but it has yet to be provided to him.
A court date has been set for September.
