Woman Sues Costco for Over $14 Million After Liquor Cabinet Allegedly Falls on Her While Shopping

One California woman is suing Costco after alleging that she sustained “multiple, permanent and catastrophic injuries” at the Santa Rosa store, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. 

Sadie Novotny is seeking $14,110,000 in general and special damages after she claims a large, heavy liquor cabinet display fell on her during a trip to the store in March. Novotny is suing the corporation for general negligence, premises liability and products liability. 

According to court documents, the Sonoma County, Calif. resident claims the liquor display fell onto her “suddenly and without warning” leading to “multiple, permanent and severe injuries thereby, including but not limited to a closed head injury and traumatic brain injury.” 

In Novotny’s initial incident report, which was filed on paper on March 22 and is featured in the court documents, Novotny wrote, “My husband and I were buying a liquor cabinet. I was holding the flatbed when the floor model fell on top of me. I caught the cabinet and pushed it back. My right shoulder, forearm, hand, fingers, and lower back hurt after the accident.” 

Costco was served on May 7, and on June 5, the case was moved to the United States District Court for Northern California on June 5 at the request of Costco’s counsel, court documents reveal. 

Novotny notes in her initial complaint that Costco “should have known that a condition on their property created an unreasonable risk of harm to users,” adding that the company failed to protect customers or “give adequate warning” to the site’s condition. 

The complaint claims that the liquor display “had thin legs” and was sitting atop “a defective or worn or otherwise inadequate wooden pallet, in an unreasonably dangerous manner, which posed a serious risk of harm to the public.” 

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In May, attorney Nick Rineberg, whose office is representing the Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco”) and Costco Wholesale Membership, Inc. (“Membership”) requested that Novotny dismiss Membership from the complaint noting, “Costco and Membership are separate entities, Membership does not operate the subject premises, Membership does not employ any persons at the subject premises, and Membership does not own, lease, operate, or manage the subject premises.” 

Novotny’s attorney Clyde Wyle has not responded to the request. 

PEOPLE has reached out to Costco as well as Costco’s legal representation and Novotny’s attorney for additional comment on the case.