The daughter of a Clifton woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Walmart in Brewer alleging that injuries Thelma Treadwell suffered from a fall on Feb. 24, 2022, caused her death a month later.
Sheila Treadwell, 54, of Clifton is seeking unspecified damages for her mother’s pain and suffering, medical bills, funeral expenses, emotional distress and loss of comfort and companionship. She is also seeking punitive damages.
Thelma Treadwell died March 24, 2022, at the age of 88.
She and her daughter were leaving the Brewer Walmart about 13 months ago when Treadwell tripped and fell over a mat, breaking her femur, according to Portland lawyer Peter Clifford, who filed the lawsuit on St. Patrick’s Day in Penobscot County Superior Court.
The fall allegedly exacerbated the elder Treadwell’s heart problems and contributed to her death a short time later.
Thelma Treadwell’s tripping and falling was captured on the store’s security system, according to Clifford.
The all-weather mat was placed over the all-weather floor surface that was ripped, he said. That created a hazard for customers.
“An all-weather mat should not have been used over the ripped surface,” Clifford said Tuesday. “It created a trip hazard because there was a danger it would migrate to where it was not supposed to be, as it did in this case.”
A spokesperson for Walmart, whose headquarters are in Bentonville, Arkansas, declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
“Our condolences go out to Ms. Treadwell’s friends and family for their loss,” said Marci Banks, director of corporate affairs. “We want all of our customers to have a safe and enjoyable experience. Out of respect for everyone involved and because this matter is in litigation, we are not going to discuss the details of this matter outside of court.”
Family members planned to hold a barbecue in Thelma Treadwell’s honor last summer.
“Thelma will be remembered for her love for her family, animals, camping, gardening, more recently, she loved working in her daughter’s new kitchen and some of the best parties Clifton ever experienced,” her obituary said.