Sadie Novotny, a Santa Rosa psychologist, has filed a $14 million lawsuit against Costco following an incident in which she claims a liquor cabinet display fell on her, inflicting severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. The complaint alleges negligence on the part of the store, as per the New York Post. The lawsuit, moved to the U.S. District Court Northern District of San Francisco, cites injuries that purportedly include a closed head injury and a concussion, with the cabinet described as being in a "dangerous and/or precarious position," supported by thin legs on a worn wooden pallet, as cited by KTVU.
Novotny's attorney, Claude Wyle, underscored the aftermath of the incident in an interview with KTVU, emphasizing that Novotny "couldn't see clearly" post-accident, which prompted an immediate visit to the emergency room doctors at the hospital said she had suffered a concussion, Wyle told KTVU. Meanwhile, Novotny's legal team has not yet received surveillance footage from Costco, which, according to Wyle, documents the occurrence; the retail giant, at the time of reporting, has not commented on the case.
The plaintiff's extensive career as a private practice psychotherapist, focused on marriage and family counseling, is detailed on her LinkedIn profile and verified by several background check websites as reported by The New York Post. The complaint breaks down the claimed damages into various categories: $5 million each for pain and suffering and emotional distress; $100,000 for medical expenses and lost earnings; and an additional $4 million earmarked for future medical costs and earnings loss.
