Carol DiPasquale is suing a ShopRite in Oakland, claiming she was injured in the produce department.
OAKLAND - A borough woman has filed a lawsuit against the local ShopRite, saying she was seriously injured after slipping on a string bean two years ago.
Carol DiPasquale, 55, was shopping in the store's produce department on Oct. 6, 2014 "when suddenly and without warning, (she) slipped on a string bean on the floor of the store and violently fell to the floor," according to the lawsuit
DiPasquale claims in court papers she "suffered severe and permanent injuries, was disabled and disfigured; has suffered and will continue to suffer great pain and torment, both mental and physical."
The lawsuit, which was filed in Bergen County Superior Court, accused ShopRite of being negligent in allowing string beans to fall out of self-service bins, failed to provide "walk-off mats or similar safety devices" in an area they "knew to be ultrahazardous to their customers."
The store also was negligent in allowing string beans to remain on the floor, the suit argues. DiPasquale has been unable to work since the incident and owes money for medical expenses, the lawsuit said.
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The lawsuit names ShopRite of Oakland and its owner, Jayare Associates.
An assistant manager at the Oakland ShopRite referred questions to the store's parent company, Wakefern Food Corporation of Newark.
Karen O'Shea, spokeswoman for Wakefern, declined to comment.
"We are aware of the case. Unfortunately, we cannot comment on pending litigation," O'Shea wrote in an email to NJ Advance Media.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.