Case Background
This case stemmed from a slip-and-fall accident that took place at the Jetro Restaurant Depot and Jetro Cash and Carry store located on NW 12th Avenue in Miami. On February 24, 2022, Maria Jerdana, a customer shopping inside the store, slipped in aisle 5-A near the jalapeños section. She later filed a negligence lawsuit against Jetro Restaurant Depot, LLC, claiming the store failed to maintain its premises safely.
Jerdana alleged that the fall resulted from liquid on the floor, which she described as water or hand sanitizer. She maintained that the store employees allowed the substance to remain there without cleaning it or warning customers. The accident, she argued, led to lasting injuries and medical costs.
Cause
According to her complaint, Jerdana was lawfully present in the store as a business invitee. She claimed that while exercising reasonable care for her own safety, she suddenly slipped and fell on the liquid left in the aisle.
Her attorneys alleged that the store created or allowed a hazardous condition to exist and failed to:
Inspect and clean the area,
Warn customers of the slippery floor, and
Guard off the unsafe spot.
They further argued that the store either knew of the condition or should have known about it through routine inspections. By not acting, Jetro Restaurant Depot allegedly exposed customers, including Jerdana, to an unreasonable risk of harm.
Injury
The fall caused Jerdana permanent injuries. She claimed severe pain, physical limitations, and ongoing medical problems. Her injuries forced her to undergo extensive treatment, including hospitalization, rehabilitation, medical imaging, and continued care.
She reported not only physical pain but also emotional distress, disfigurement, and a diminished capacity to enjoy life. These issues, she explained, impacted her daily activities, limited her independence, and carried long-term consequences. Her doctors confirmed that the injuries were permanent to a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
Damages
Jerdana sought compensation for:
Medical expenses from the date of the fall through trial,
The cost of future medical care,
Pain and suffering,
Mental anguish and emotional distress,
Disability and disfigurement, and
Loss of enjoyment of life.
Her lawsuit asked for damages exceeding $50,000, as well as coverage for legal costs.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Maria Jerdana
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Glenn B. Levine | Lawrence A. Levine
Experts for Plaintiff(s): Raphael Roybal | Kiley Reynolds | Daniel Feinberg | Thomas Maguire
Defendant(s):
Counsel for Defendant(s): Niva M. Harney | Gilda G. Romano | Vanessa M Pryor
Experts for Defendant(s): Kevin O’Donnell | Elin B. Kunz | Paul Koenigsberg | Daniel Cousin
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Plaintiff’s Arguments
Jerdana’s legal team contended that Jetro Restaurant Depot had a duty to keep the store safe for customers. They emphasized that the hazard in aisle 5-A was foreseeable, preventable, and unreasonably dangerous.
The attorneys argued that the liquid had been present long enough that the staff either knew about it or should have discovered it. They said the store failed to act reasonably by not cleaning the area, not posting a warning sign, and not blocking off the aisle until it was safe.
They also insisted that the fall was not Jerdana’s fault, stressing that she had been careful as she shopped. According to their case, her injuries and resulting pain were directly caused by the store’s negligence.
Defense Arguments
Jetro Restaurant Depot denied responsibility and filed a broad set of affirmative defenses. Their attorneys argued that:
The store had no actual or constructive knowledge of any hazardous condition.
Any danger that existed was open and obvious, and Jerdana should have noticed it.
Jerdana herself failed to exercise reasonable care and contributed to her own fall.
She assumed the risk by proceeding in an unsafe manner.
Her injuries were pre-existing or caused by other events outside the store’s control.
She failed to mitigate her damages after the incident.
The defense also invoked contractual defenses, arguing that her membership agreement with Restaurant Depot included provisions that limited liability, required arbitration, and even waived jury trial rights.
They maintained that the store had acted responsibly and that any negligence lay with Jerdana herself or third parties over whom the store had no control.
Claims
The Plaintiff’s claim focused squarely on premises liability. She asserted that as a business invitee, she was entitled to expect a safe shopping environment. Her attorneys sought damages for her medical costs, lost quality of life, and other losses stemming from the slip and fall.
Defense
The defense leaned on multiple theories: comparative negligence, assumption of risk, lack of notice, open and obvious danger, and pre-existing conditions. They also tried to rely on contractual limits within the membership agreement, including arbitration clauses and waiver of jury trial. Ultimately, the defense sought either dismissal of the claim or at least a substantial reduction in damages.
Jury Verdict
On July 30, 2025, the jury returned its verdict. The jury found that Jetro Restaurant Depot was negligent and that its negligence caused Jerdana’s injuries. They also decided that Jerdana herself bore no responsibility for the incident.
The panel awarded her compensation for past medical expenses amounting to $ 329,928, future medical costs amounting to $ 330,071, and for pain and suffering, disability or physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience and loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, for the past , the amount awarded was $ 329,928 and for the future, the amount awarded was $ 330,071.The total amount awarded as a compensation is $ 1,320,000. The verdict reflected the jury’s belief that the store bore full responsibility for the accident and that Jerdana’s injuries required long-term compensation.
