PREMISES LIABILITY LAW: Banana Peel Causes Lawsuit against Budget Store

March 3, 2011

Fontana – A woman is suing budget store 99 Cents Only for the injuries she suffered after slipping on a banana peel.

Ida Valentine, 58, is suing the store after an accident last April in their Fontana branch. She claimed that she slipped on a banana peel and landed on her backside, resulting to herniated disk and tissue damage.

Valentine spent $9,000 on medical bills due to the injuries, and is seeking an unspecified amount of damages. Her lawyer said that 99 Cents Only refused a proposed settlement of $44,000.

Executives from the discount retailer have not commented about the lawsuit yet.

The fruit became an image associated with slips because during the 19th century, bananas were a popular street food in some American cities. However, the press portrayed their peelings as a public nuisance.