PHOENIX, AZ – The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that businesses have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe environments for customers, sending a lawsuit against Circle K back to trial court for further proceedings.
Lawsuit Stems from Trip-and-Fall Incident at Circle K
The case involves Roxanne Perez, who sued Circle K after tripping over a case of water placed at the end of an aisle while shopping for ice cream in March 2020. Perez claimed the store was responsible for her injuries because the water display was not clearly visible.
A lower court dismissed her lawsuit, granting summary judgment in favor of Circle K, ruling that the water case was an “open and obvious” hazard and not unreasonably dangerous.
Arizona Supreme Court: Jury Must Decide Store’s Liability
The Arizona Supreme Court disagreed with the lower court’s decision, stating that Perez should have the opportunity to present evidence of negligence and let a jury decide whether Circle K should be held liable.
The ruling does not mean Perez won her lawsuit but clarifies that businesses have a legal duty to keep stores safe for customers, regardless of whether hazards seem “open and obvious.”
“We conclude that whether Circle K’s store display was an unreasonably dangerous tripping hazard had no bearing on that duty issue,” Chief Justice Ann Timmer wrote in the opinion.
Impact of the Ruling on Business Owners
This unanimous decision has broader implications, reinforcing that Arizona businesses must take reasonable steps to prevent customer injuries.
Store owners and managers may need to reassess safety policies and store layouts to reduce potential hazards that could result in liability.
Arizona Supreme Court Uses AI Court Reporter for First Time
In addition to its legal significance, the case marked the first use of an AI-generated news reporter by the Arizona Supreme Court to provide public information about a ruling.
The lawsuit now returns to trial court, where Perez will have the chance to argue her case before a jury.
