Grocery Chain Ordered to Pay $6.68 Million After 56-Year-Old Slips on Grape at El Monte Food4Less

On an ordinary shopping trip to Food4Less in El Monte, Arlene Talavera stepped into the condiments aisle and slipped on a single grape lying on the floor. The fall left her with spinal injuries that required ongoing medical treatment and altered her daily life in lasting ways.

The legal dispute turned on notice. Surveillance evidence showed the grape had been on the floor for at least 24 minutes before the fall, and a store employee had been stocking shelves in the same aisle during that window. Jacoby and Meyers attorneys Laura F. Sedrish and John Denove argued that the defendant, Alpha Beta Company dba Food4Less, either knew about the hazard or should have found and removed it before anyone was hurt.

The defense, represented by Wesierski and Zurek LLP, contested liability and disputed the extent of the injuries. The case went to trial before Judge Michele E. Flurer in Los Angeles County Superior Court, under case number 19STCV05580. The jury deliberated for two days following the 11-day trial.

The panel returned a verdict of $6,680,000, finding no comparative negligence on Talavera's part. The award broke down as follows: $680,000 in past medical expenses, $400,000 for future medical care, $1,600,000 for past non-economic damages, and $4,000,000 for future non-economic damages. The 11-to-1 jury vote reflected substantial agreement on both liability and the scale of harm.

The verdict was rendered on October 3, 2024.