Costco Slip-and-Fall: Jury Awards Arin Phillips $50K

Case Background

In March 2022, Arin Phillips visited the Costco-Kendall store in Miami-Dade County, Florida, for routine shopping. While walking through an aisle filled with household goods, her foot slipped on a wet spot on the floor. There were no cones, warning signs, or employees nearby to alert customers about the hazard. She fell hard, landing on her right hip and shoulder. Other shoppers hurried to help as store workers called for medical assistance. Paramedics arrived within minutes and transported Phillips to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed a fractured hip and shoulder injuries.

Phillips later said that her life changed after the fall. The accident disrupted her daily routine, work, and physical well-being. What had begun as a normal afternoon of shopping turned into months of medical care and rehabilitation.

Cause

Phillips claimed Costco was negligent in maintaining safe conditions for shoppers. She argued that employees failed to inspect the area or clean up the spill in time. According to her, the liquid had been on the floor long enough that store staff should have noticed and acted. She also stated that Costco did not place any warning signs or block off the dangerous area.

Injury

The fall fractured Phillips’s right hip and damaged her shoulder. Doctors performed surgery to repair her hip. She required extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain her mobility. Even after treatment, she experienced pain, stiffness, and limited movement. Her injuries interfered with simple activities like walking long distan