That mysterious, buttery substance pumped from large cylinders onto your $8 bucket of movie theater popcorn may not be real butter. But it's just as slick, at least according to a lawsuit filed by Sonya Williams, who says unsafe conditions at the River Oaks 6 Movie Theater caused her to "fall on butter on the floor in the walk-way" (Chicago Bar-Tender).
Personally, I've yet to patronize a movie theater with clean floors, but usually I find them sticky with spilled soda and bubble gum. The butter (or whatever it is) usually stays on the popcorn.
The nine-count complaint alleges that her slip and fall accident was the result of negligence among the nine different corporations, partnerships and holding companies that have at least some financial stake in the theater.
So even though the alleged butter spill likely was the responsibility of some part-time employee, suits like this show that even menial jobs like mopping up messes can be high stakes. But since the alleged butter spill was in the walk-way and not hidden away in an aisle somewhere, perhaps it should have been easy to spot.
The plaintiff's counsel, Chicago injury attorney Andrew S. Kryder, writes in the complaint that his client sustained "severe and permanent injuries" and "will in the future continue to suffer." But the details of her injuries are not included in the complaint (they seldom are).
Williams is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.
- Slip and Fall Accidents - Overview (FindLaw)
- Dos and Don'ts of Personal Injury (FindLaw)
- Chicago Injury Lawyers (FindLaw)
