A woman from Sonoma County, California, has filed a lawsuit against retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation, claiming she suffered catastrophic injuries when a large merchandise display toppled onto her during a routine shopping trip. Identified as Sadie Novotny, the plaintiff alleges the incident occurred on March 22, 2025, at the Santa Rosa Costco location on 1900 Santa Rosa Avenue.
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According to legal filings, Novotny and her husband were examining a floor-model liquor cabinet when the display suddenly fell, pinning her underneath. The heavy piece of furniture allegedly dropped from a worn-out wooden pallet and lacked structural stability due to thin legs, leading to the accident. Novotny asserts that she sustained a closed head injury and a traumatic brain injury (TBI), injuries she describes as “permanent and catastrophic.”
Why did the Sonoma County woman file her lawsuit in Alameda County?
Though the incident occurred in Santa Rosa, located in Sonoma County, Novotny filed her case in Alameda County Superior Court on April 29. While her city of residence remains undisclosed in the case records, it is unusual for such a case to be filed in a different jurisdiction. On June 5, Costco responded by filing a motion to move the case to federal court—specifically, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco.
Costco’s legal team justified the removal by citing diversity of jurisdiction, emphasizing that Costco’s headquarters are in Washington state, outside of California. This strategic move allows Costco to argue the case under federal jurisdiction, potentially affecting trial dynamics and jury selection.
What damages is the plaintiff seeking in the lawsuit against Costco?
USA Today reported that in her legal complaint, Sadie Novotny is seeking a total of $14,110,000 in damages, broken down as follows:
- $5 million for emotional distress
- $5 million for pain, suffering, and inconvenience
- $2 million for anticipated future medical expenses
- $2 million for projected loss of earning capacity
- $50,000 for current medical expenses
- $50,000 for earnings lost to date
- $10,000 for loss of household services
These demands highlight the extent to which Novotny and her legal team believe the injuries have altered her life. Court records indicate she reported immediate pain in her shoulder, forearm, hand, fingers, and lower back. A Costco incident report attached to the complaint supports her claims, stating that she tried to catch the falling cabinet before it fully collapsed on her.
What is Costco being accused of in the lawsuit?
Novotny’s lawsuit names three primary allegations: general negligence, premises liability, and product liability. These legal theories assert that Costco failed in its duty to provide a safe environment for customers and failed to ensure the merchandise on display did not pose a hazard.
Negligence:
The complaint accuses Costco of not properly managing or organizing merchandise and of failing to ensure the safety of store layouts. Novotny also asserts that employees were not adequately trained to prevent such incidents.
Premises Liability:
Premises liability claims argue that the property owner is responsible for accidents that occur due to unsafe conditions on their premises. Novotny contends that the placement of the display cabinet—on a worn pallet and with a precarious base—rendered it a hazard.
Product Liability:
Although the cabinet in question was a store display rather than a purchased product, Novotny includes product liability, arguing that the item itself was inherently unstable and therefore defective in its function as a demonstration piece.
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