A recent lawsuit claims that a local grocery store and its property owner failed to keep their premises safe, resulting in injuries to a customer who tripped on a rug while shopping. The complaint was filed by Beth P. Sloan in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on March 24, 2026, naming Whole Foods Market Group LLC doing business as Whole Foods Market and Sunrise Plaza Holdings LLC as defendants.
According to the court filing, Beth P. Sloan visited the property at 201 38th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, Florida on November 15, 2025. She was there to shop for groceries when she tripped over what is described as a “bunched-up rug” located in one of the commonly used shopping aisles. The lawsuit states that Sloan was an invitee at the time of her visit.
The complaint alleges that both defendants had responsibilities regarding safety at the location. It states that Sunrise Plaza Holdings LLC owned the property where Whole Foods Market operates its grocery store and that Whole Foods Market Group LLC occupied or controlled the premises. Sloan’s legal team argues that both companies owed her a duty to maintain safe conditions and warn about potential dangers they knew or should have known about.
The filing outlines two counts of negligence—one against each defendant. Against Whole Foods Market Group LLC, it alleges: “Defendant breached these duties by failing to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, by failing to warn Plaintiff of a dangerous condition of which it was aware or should have been aware, by its negligent mode of operation, and by failing to act reasonably under the facts and circumstances present at or near the time of Plaintiff’s presence on the premises.” Specifically, it accuses Whole Foods Market Group LLC of not maintaining or replacing a bunched-up rug in an area frequented by shoppers and failing to provide warnings about this hazard.
Similarly, Sunrise Plaza Holdings LLC is accused of breaching its nondelegable duty as property owner by not ensuring reasonable safety standards were met and not warning customers about dangerous conditions such as the bunched-up rug. The complaint asserts: “Defendant failed to maintain or replace a bunched-up rug of which it knew or should have known, failed to warn of a bunched-up rug in an area known to be commonly traversed by shopping center invitees, created a foreseeable zone of risk which it failed to correct or guard against, and otherwise acted unreasonably under the then-existing facts and circumstances.”
As described in both counts against each defendant, Sloan claims she suffered bodily injury from her fall including pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, medical expenses for hospitalization and care, lost earnings and ability to earn money, as well as aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The complaint further states: “These losses are either permanent or continuing and Plaintiff will suffer these losses in the future.”
Sloan seeks damages exceeding $50,001 from each defendant along with costs and prejudgment interest. She also demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Dane Heptner from Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner based in St. Petersburg. The case number is 26-001823-CI.
Source: 26001823CI_Beth_Sloan_v_Whole_Foods_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdf
