An 87-year-old Villager has filed a lawsuit against Costco, claiming she sustained “significant personal injuries” after she was allegedly struck by a cart being pushed by an employee.
Attorneys representing Elizabeth Pastor filed the lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corporation in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County on August 20.
Pastor, who resides in the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Miona, claims she was visiting the Costco located at 4600 Collina Terrace in Clermont on Dec. 4, 2024.
During her visit, Pastor alleges that she was “struck by a shopping cart being pushed” by an unknown Costco employee identified solely as “Jane Doe” in the complaint.
Pastor’s attorneys argue that the employee was “not acting as a reasonably safe and prudent employee should act,” and that the employee created an unnecessary hazard with their method of “handling shopping carts.”
The lawsuit alleges that the responsible employee gave no “warning” before allegedly crashing into Pastor’s body, and that the employee failed to “render aid” afterwards.
As a result of the alleged incident, Pastor claims she suffered “bodily injury resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, permanent and significant scarring,” and the loss of “capacity for the enjoyment of life.” She claims she has incurred hospital expenses, medical and nursing care and treatment, and a loss of earnings, among other losses.
Pastor alleges the losses are either permanent or continuing in nature. She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages, exclusive of costs, attorneys’ fees, and interest.
Costco opened its location in Clermont in 2023. Earlier this month, the company celebrated the grand opening of its first location in The Villages.