By Sara Beth Williams–
A woman has filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court against a local sit-down restaurant in Citrus Heights, alleging negligence after she slipped and fell twice while visiting the restaurant in November 2024.
In a complaint filed in Sacramento Superior Court on Aug. 20, Janet Leroy alleges that she was visiting the Applebee’s at 6900 Auburn Blvd. on Nov. 11, 2024, when she stepped on “unmarked and/or unsecured food” on the floor and slipped and fell.
According to the complaint, Leroy regained her footing and continued walking before stepping on water “and/or another slippery substance” on the floor, causing her to slip and fall a second time.
Leroy alleges the conditions resulted in “severe injuries, pain and other damages.” The allegations have not been proven in court.
The lawsuit names Applebee’s Grill + Bar, Applebee’s Citrus Heights, Applebee’s Restaurants LLC, a manager identified as “DOE 1,” and 49 additional defendants identified as “DOES 2-50.” The complaint states that the true names of the Doe defendants are unknown to Leroy. It also alleges that the “DOE” defendants were agents or employees of the other named defendants and acted within the scope of that agency or employment.
Court documents indicate that the named manager in the complaint was a supervisor or manager of the restaurant at the time of the incident and was responsible for maintenance-related duties, including ensuring that policies were in place for maintaining the premises according to industry standards and for training employees responsible for maintenance.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants were “negligent in the ownership, care, control, maintenance, operation and management” of the restaurant. Leroy further alleges that the defendants allowed the premises to remain in a “dangerous and unsafe condition,” failed to properly warn customers of the alleged dangerous condition, and failed to have or follow reasonable inspection procedures.
The complaint alleges the defendants knew or should have known about the condition and should have eliminated, guarded against or warned of it.
Leroy is seeking compensatory damages, with the amount to be determined according to proof, as well as court costs and other relief. The complaint lists alleged loss of wages, loss of use of property, hospital and medical expenses, property damage and loss of earning capacity among the damages she claims.
The suit seeks prejudgment interest and other damages, including loss of profits and special damages that the complaint says are currently unknown and would be proven at trial. The complaint also includes a demand for a jury trial if applicable.
A case management conference has been scheduled for June 9, 2027, at 9 a.m. in Department 16C at the Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Courthouse, court records show.
A case management conference is a procedural hearing where the court addresses how the case will proceed, including whether it should be referred to arbitration or another form of alternative dispute resolution.
The Sentinel reached out to Applebee’s for comment regarding the litigation and has not heard back.
