Law and Disorder

Mango madness

Vardui Andikyan v. Vallarta Supermarkets Inc., Case No. EC050221

Falling fruit may lead to bumpy walking conditions, especially for customers who frequent the produce section of any supermarket.

That was the case for Vardui Andikyan.

Andikyan was shopping at Vallarta Supermarket when she slipped and fell on a piece of mango that was left on the store’s floor, according to a lawsuit filed in Burbank Superior Court.

She claims that the store failed to display warning signs about the fallen mango and slippery floor.

The store, Andikyan claimed, should have known that the slippery floor conditions were hazardous to customers.

“It was foreseeable that a piece of fruit or vegetable would roll on the floor of the store and cause a store customer to slip and fall upon it,” the lawsuit stated.

Andikyan is suing for more than $25,000 in damages.

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A tragic loss

Francisco Linares and Edwin Giovanni Linares v. National Oilwell, et al, Case No. EC050241

Francisco Linares never foresaw the tragic set of events that would occur July 22, 2008.

His pregnant girlfriend, Mirna Reyes Gonzales, and another unknown woman were walking about 4 p.m. that day along a crosswalk at the intersection of Beck Avenue and Victory Boulevard, according to lawsuit filed in Burbank Superior Court.

A white Chevy Silverado, driven by Willie Lee Graham, entered the intersection to make a left turn onto Victory Boulevard and struck the two women in the crosswalk, the lawsuit stated. The unknown woman got up and walked away from the crash, but Gonzales, 20, was severely injured and unable to move.

Gonzales, who was five months’ pregnant, suffered critical head injuries, and was forced to give birth to her son, Edwin Giovanni Linares, the next day. Edwin was born at 2 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 12 inches long. Gonzales was unable to recover from her injuries and died after giving birth to her son.

“He never had the opportunity to be held in his mother’s arms,” the lawsuit stated.

Edwin suffered personal injury as a result of his premature birth, according to the lawsuit.

Edwin’s father is suing on behalf of him and the wrongful death of Gonzales. While the truck was driven by Graham, the lawsuit states it was owned by National Oilwell. Linares is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.

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Stage diving

Loretta Norwalt v. Castaway Specialty Restaurant, Case No. EC050318

Loretta Norwalt didn’t expect to be taking a stage dive March 21 when she visited the Castaway Restaurant in Burbank.

Norwalt was standing on an erected stage when she fell into a gap between a wall and the stage, according to a lawsuit filed in Glendale Superior Court.

The stage wasn’t attached to the wall, which caused the large gap, the lawsuit stated.

She claims the “installment was careless and negligent.”

Norwalt is seeking more $25,000 for the severe physical and emotional pain that she suffered as result of her fall.

?LAW & DISORDER is a weekly digest of the strange, bizarre and occasionally heartbreaking cases found in our local courthouses. Remember: The accused are presumed innocent until proved otherwise; filing a lawsuit does not automatically make the defendant liable, and the person in the black robe is probably a judge. Send your tips to veronica.rocha@latimes.com.