Prestopino v. Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc.

The defendant supermarket (“Shaw’s) appeals from a judgment in favor of a plaintiff customer (“Prestopino”) who suffered personal injuries when she tripped on a wrinkled carpeting as she entered the supermarket store to shop. The trial judge, hearing the matter without a jury, found for Prestopino. We reverse.

The trial judge found that Prestopino and her husband were lawfully on the premises owned and controlled by Shaw’s when she tripped and fell on a rug that was located on the floor inside the store entrance. There was an inlaid carpet in the entrance area with an unattached mat or rug…