A 74-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against a major retail corporation, alleging negligence and emotional distress following an incident at one of its stores. On November 26, 2024, Agnes Lau filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, against Target Corporation. The lawsuit claims that Lau suffered significant injuries due to the negligence of a Target employee.
The incident occurred on February 6, 2023, when Agnes Lau was shopping at the Stonestown Galleria Target Store in San Francisco. According to the complaint, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a Target employee pushed a heavy-duty metal U-boat cart full of stock around the ice cream section and struck Lau without warning. This collision caused her to fall and sustain multiple bodily injuries. The complaint states that "Defendants owed Plaintiff and other invitees a Duty of Care to be free from injuries in a safe environment when shopping or visiting its stores." However, it alleges that this duty was breached when the employee failed to exercise ordinary care.
Lau's complaint further details how she landed on her right side and hit her head on the hard floor due to the impact from the cart. This incident led to her experiencing headaches, pain in her upper extremities and hips, numbness in her hands and legs, and required medical attention. Paramedics examined Lau before she was taken by ambulance to UCSF for further treatment. The plaintiff continues to suffer from pain and may require surgical intervention.
The lawsuit also invokes the doctrine of Respondeat Superior, arguing that Target Corporation is liable for failing to properly train its staff on safely operating heavy-duty carts. The complaint emphasizes that such negligence could have been avoided if employees were adequately trained not to obstruct their vision with stacked carts.
In addition to physical injuries, Lau claims she has endured emotional distress as a result of the incident. Her legal team argues that she suffered harm which laws are intended to prevent, resulting in physical, emotional, and financial damages.
Agnes Lau seeks specific damages for medical expenses incurred due to her injuries as well as general damages for pain and suffering. She also requests compensation for wage loss and other special damages according to proof at trial. Furthermore, she asks for interest according to law and reimbursement for costs related to the suit.
Representing Agnes Lau is attorney Hanna Leung from Hanna Leung Professional Law Corporation based in San Francisco. The case has been assigned Case No. He4-620109 under unlimited jurisdiction due to claims exceeding $35,000 in damages.