Mathis v. H. S. Kress Co.

On August 17, 1948, the plaintiff Hazel Mathis was shopping in the defendant’s Seattle store at Third avenue and Pike street. She was inspecting several items at the cosmetics counter, which was divided into compartments by low glass partitions. Facing the counter, plaintiff picked up some toilet tissue and then moved to her right to purchase some nail polish remover. She desired to make a further purchase of nail polish, so turned to her left and stepped behind the floor girl, who at that time was facing the counter. As she did so, she slipped and fell, cutting her arm on a glass partition,…