Lawsuit filed after woman slips on ‘wet and mushy’ trash bag outside MS Coast Walgreens

A Harrison County couple is suing Walgreens Co. for a slip-and-fall accident at one its Gulfport stores.

The accident happened on March 30, 2022, outside the Walgreens north of Interstate 10 on U.S. 49.

Fairen Murrell says in the federal negligence lawsuit that she slipped on a trash bag that was “wet and mushy” from rain, causing injuries as she hit her truck’s seat, frame and step-up bar. “She was in such an incredible amount of pain in her head, neck, back, and knees that it was hard for her to even stand up,” the lawsuit says.

She went inside, spoke to a cashier and asked if they put out trash bags, the lawsuit says. “The Walgreens cashier affirmed that Walgreens employees did indeed put the trash bags in the parking lot, as they usually do.”

A manager told Murrell she would watch a surveillance video of the parking lot and that her superior would contact her at a later date. “As the Plaintiff was stepping out the doors, “ the lawsuit said, “she noticed that the manager then proceeded to put gloves on to remove the trash bags from the parking lot.”

Murrell said a Walgreens representative called weeks later to confirm the trash bags were left by an employee.

Murrell and her husband claim the trash bags created “a dangerous and unreasonably unsafe” condition for patrons and that no warning signs were posted.

The couple is asking for actual damages from the medical bills, as well as punitive damages. They are suing Walgreens, its parent company and any employees involved in the incident.

A lawsuit represent only one side of a legal argument. So far, Walgreens has not filed a response to the suit.