Woman Recovers $6.45 Million After Slipping on Fish Guts Outside Store

While the majority of slip and fall accidents result in a sore bum and a bit of embarrassment, some of them result in serious injuries. A recent verdict in New York is an example of an accident in which the victim was seriously injured. In April 2025, a Manhattan jury awarded $6.45 million to a woman who slipped on fish guts outside Citarella, a well-known gourmet market. The accident left the victim with devastating injuries, years of surgical procedures, and permanent limitations. The case is a powerful reminder of how serious slip and fall accidents can be.

The accident

The plaintiff, a salsa dancer in her fifties, was walking past Citarella’s Broadway store in 2014 when she stepped on a slick puddle of fish waste that was left on the sidewalk. The fall was quite serious. She dislocated her knee and tore three ligaments. Over the next decade, she endured a dozen surgeries, chronic pain, and an end to her active lifestyle.

According to her lawsuit against the store, Citarella’s was responsible for maintaining the sidewalk. The defense attempted to argue that her preexisting lupus played a role in her ongoing medical problems. The jury, however, disagreed. According to the jury, Citarella was fully liable. They rejected attempts to shift the blame away from the unsafe condition that resulted in the fall.

Understanding premises liability lawsuits

New York law works the same way that California law works. It requires property owners and businesses to maintain the sidewalks in adjacent areas under their control. That means cleaning up spills, inspecting regularly for hazards, and warning the public if a danger cannot be fixed right away.

The case highlights several important legal points:

• Eliminating or warning – A business can be held responsible if it knew or should have known about a dangerous condition. In this case, the employees of the store actually created the dangerous condition that injured the plaintiff and should have warned and immediately remedied the dangerous condition.
• Preexisting conditions are not a shield – Many injury victims worry that a prior illness or medical issue will prevent them from recovering damages. But as this verdict shows, if the pre-existing condition does not relate to the injuries, then it will not work to reduce damages.
• The cost of harm – Multi-million dollar verdicts are not about a single surgery or temporary inconvenience. They account for years of medical care, lost mobility, lost enjoyment of life, and ongoing pain.

For victims of slip and fall accidents, this verdict is important. Such cases are not “frivolous.” They are about holding a business accountable for wrongdoing. They are about ensuring that injured people can afford the care and support they require. If you’ve been injured on someone else’s property, documenting the accident, seeking medical care, and speaking with a personal injury lawyer can make all the difference.

Talk to an Oakland, CA, Slip and Fall Injury Attorney Today

Venardi Zurada represents the interests of plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits filed against negligent defendants. We serve the Bay Area from our office locations in Oakland and Walnut Creek. Call our Oakland personal injury lawyers to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help.

Source:

nypost.com/2025/04/11/us-news/dancer-who-slipped-on-fish-guts-at-citarella-gets-6m-verdict/