At page 330 Establishing constructive notice for premises liability claims59 citing cases“Mere speculation or suggestion is not sufficient to meet this burden, and courts will not infer constructive notice for the purposes of summary judgment where the plaintiff's allegations are no more likely than any other potential scenario”
- Bennett, No. 2:25-cv-00407 (W.D. La. Sept. 24, 2026).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Hawkins, No. 2:25-cv-01136 (W.D. La. Sept. 24, 2026). “places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs”
- Montecino, No. 1:25-cv-01032 (W.D. La. Aug. 20, 2026).“The statute ‘places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs’ in slip and fall cases”
- Hartdegen, No. 6:25-cv-00965 (W.D. La. Aug. 10, 2026).Nor is “‘[m]ere speculation or suggestion’ … sufficient to [show constructive notice].” Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007), quoting Allen v. Wal- Mart Stores, Inc., 850 So. 2d 895, 898 (La. App. 2d Cir. 2003).
- Zina M. Mitchell v. Brookshire Grocery Co., No. 5:24-cv-00267 (W.D. La. Aug. 5, 2026).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Perry, No. 6:24-cv-01000 (W.D. La. July 7, 2026).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion’ is not sufficient to [show constructive notice]”
- Henry, No. 2:25-cv-00684 (E.D. La. Apr. 30, 2026).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Howe, No. 5:24-cv-00600 (W.D. La. Apr. 28, 2026).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Mahoney, No. 5:24-cv-00537 (W.D. La. Feb. 4, 2026). “[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Thomas, No. 6:25-cv-00344 (W.D. La. Jan. 28, 2026).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion’ is not sufficient to [show constructive notice]”
Show 49 more citing cases
- Cadence Bank v. Johnson, 160 F.4th 197 (5th Cir. 2025).publishedBagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Howard v. Brookshire Grocery, No. 23-30448 (5th Cir. Nov. 6, 2025).unpublished Evidence indicating that a puddle in which a customer slipped was large without further evidence of the puddle’s source does not satisfy the _____________________ 50 Flowers v. Wal-Mart Inc., 79 F.4th 449, 453 (5th Cir. 2023) (alteration i…
- Cotton, No. 2:25-cv-00455 (E.D. La. Oct. 30, 2025).Adams v. Dolgencorp, L.L.C., 559 F. App’x 383, 386 (5th Cir. 2014) (quoting Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007)).
- Francois v. RaceTrac Inc, No. 3:24-cv-00781 (M.D. La. Sept. 17, 2025).Doc. 13 at p. 5. 29 Bagley v. Albertson’s, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007) (quoting Jones v. Brookshire Grocery Co., 847 So. 2d 43, 48 (La. App. 2 Cir. 2003)). 30 White, 699 So. 2d at 1086 ; see also Bertaut v. Corral Gulfsouth, In…
- Henderson v. Boyd Gaming Corp, No. 2:23-cv-00090 (W.D. La. July 18, 2025).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion is not sufficient to meet this burden, and courts will not infer constructive notice for the purposes of summary judgment where the plaintiff's allegations are no more likely than any ot…”
- Adger v. TA Operating, No. 24-30530, 2025 WL 1276406 (5th Cir. May 2, 2025).unpublished“places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs in slip and fall cases”
- Chiasson v. DG Louisiana, LLC, No. 2:24-cv-01245 (E.D. La. Apr. 8, 2025).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Brunet v. AutoZone Dev. LLC, No. 2:23-cv-06732 (E.D. La. Apr. 4, 2025).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Barnett v. Wal-Mart Inc, No. 3:24-cv-00863 (W.D. La. Feb. 3, 2025).“Mere speculation or suggestion is not sufficient to meet this burden, and courts will not infer constructive notice for the purposes of summary judgment where the plaintiff's allegations are no more likely than any othe…”
- Alvarado v. Boyd Gaming Corp, 759 F. Supp. 3d 735 (W.D. La. 2024).published“Mere speculation or suggestion’ is not sufficient to [show constructive notice]”
- Branum v. Brinker Int'l, No. 2:23-cv-01512 (E.D. La. Nov. 14, 2024).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Richard v. Dollar Tree Stores Inc, No. 6:23-cv-00913, 2024 WL 2923003 (W.D. La. June 10, 2024).“places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs”
- Marks v. D G Louisiana L L C, No. 6:23-cv-01142 (W.D. La. May 17, 2024).“places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs”
- Adger v. T A Operating L L C, No. 5:23-cv-00179 (W.D. La. Apr. 24, 2024). “[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Brass v. Wal-Mart Louisiana L L C, No. 3:22-cv-06146 (W.D. La. Dec. 18, 2023). Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330-31 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Hayes v. Outback Steakhouse of Florida L L C, No. 1:22-cv-00494 (W.D. La. Nov. 30, 2023). “places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs’ in slip and fall cases”
- Hernandez v.Walmart, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-00210 (E.D. La. Aug. 23, 2023).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Howard v. Super 1 Foods, No. 6:22-cv-01482 (W.D. La. June 21, 2023). La. 2023) (quoting Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007)). “[C]ourts will not infer constructive notice … where the plaintiff’s allegations are ‘no more likely than any other potential scenario.’” Bagley v. Albertso…
- Lawrence v. Wal-Mart Louisiana L L C, No. 1:21-cv-03340 (W.D. La. Apr. 18, 2023).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion is not sufficient to [show constructive notice]”
- Neidigh v. Red River Ent. of Shreveport L L C, No. 5:21-cv-04323 (W.D. La. Feb. 24, 2023).“places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs”
- Stewart v. DG Louisiana, LLC, No. 2:21-cv-01580 (E.D. La. Jan. 25, 2023).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Thompson v. D G Louisiana L L C, No. 1:20-cv-01371 (W.D. La. Dec. 6, 2022).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion’ is not sufficient to [show constructive notice.]”
- K. v. King, No. 22-60228 (5th Cir. Sept. 28, 2022).unpublishedBagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Cloyd v. K.B.R., No. 21-20676, 2022 WL 4104029 (5th Cir. Sept. 8, 2022).unpublishedBagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Dufrene v. Brinker Louisiana, Inc., No. 2:21-cv-01568 (E.D. La. July 8, 2022).“[m]ere speculation or suggestion”
- Smith v. Wal-Mart Louisiana, No. 21-30665 (5th Cir. Mar. 16, 2022).unpublishedThe court concluded that “Smith fails to provide any positive evidence establishing constructive notice and ʻ[m]ere speculation . . . is not sufficient to meet [Smith’s] burden and [this court] will not infer constructive notice for purpos…
- Donaldson v. Sam's East, No. 21-30189, 2021 WL 4898724 (5th Cir. Oct. 20, 2021).unpublished Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Boutian v. Walmart, Inc., No. 2:20-cv-02881, 2021 WL 4243311 (E.D. La. Sept. 17, 2021).Plaintiff testified that she slipped on a grape.31 In addition, a witness to Plaintiff’s fall, Lena Cross, testified there was dirt and a liquid at the spot where Plaintiff fell.32 The Court finds Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc. instructive.33…
- Muller v. Bonefish Grill, LLC, No. 2:20-cv-01059 (E.D. La. July 7, 2021). “statute ‘places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs’ in slip and fall cases”
- Spearman v. Wal-Mart Louisiana L L C, No. 5:20-cv-00768 (W.D. La. June 28, 2021).“places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs”
- Campbell v. Texas Roadhouse Inc, No. 1:19-cv-00840 (W.D. La. June 24, 2021).“Mere speculation or suggestion’ is not sufficient to [show constructive notice]”
- Williams v. Walmart Inc., No. 2:20-cv-02722 (E.D. La. May 17, 2021). “statute ‘places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs’ in slip and fall cases”
- Paul Williams v. Home Depot USA Inc, 341 F. App'x 976 (5th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- Cates v. Dillard Dep't Stores, Inc., 624 F.3d 695 (5th Cir. 2010).published
- Lisa Taylor v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 464 F. App'x 337 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- Brenda Adams v. Dolgencorp, L.L.C., 559 F. App'x 383 (5th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- Quandrala Peterson v. Brookshire Grocery Co., No. 17-30930 (5th Cir. Nov. 9, 2018).unpublished
- Ramona McDowell v. Wal-Mart Stores, Incorpo, No. 19-30768 (5th Cir. Apr. 30, 2020).unpublished
- Pledger v. Dollar Gen. Store No. 871, No. 2:18-cv-05992 (E.D. La. July 23, 2019).
- Thomas v. New Hotel Monteleone, LLC, No. 2:19-cv-10597 (E.D. La. June 10, 2020).
- Perdomo De Lao v. Sam's Club, No. 2:19-cv-13074 (E.D. La. July 31, 2020).
- Roach v. Walmart, Inc., No. 2:19-cv-13114, 2020 WL 4698982 (E.D. La. Aug. 13, 2020).
- Harris v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., No. 2:18-cv-01823, 2020 WL 6868848 (E.D. La. Nov. 23, 2020).
- Abadie v. Target Corp. of Minnesota, No. 2:18-cv-14112 (E.D. La. Dec. 29, 2020).
- Batiste v. Walmart, Inc., No. 2:19-cv-11474 (E.D. La. Jan. 6, 2021).
- Donaldson v. Sam's East, Inc., No. 3:18-cv-01108 (M.D. La. Mar. 16, 2021).
- Bailey v. RaceTrac Petroleum, Inc., No. 3:20-cv-00303, 2021 WL 1792081 (M.D. La. May 5, 2021).
- Sepulvado v. O'Reilly Auto. Stores Inc, No. 5:19-cv-00545 (W.D. La. Oct. 15, 2020).
- Hamilton v. Lowes Home Centers L L C, No. 5:19-cv-01201 (W.D. La. Feb. 22, 2021).
At page 331 Determining constructive notice through spill evidence16 citing cases“whether the period of time that a condition existed was sufficient to provide a merchant with constructive notice is a fact question that must be submitted to the jury.”
- Howard v. Brookshire Grocery, No. 23-30448 (5th Cir. Nov. 6, 2025).unpublished Evidence indicating that a puddle in which a customer slipped was large without further evidence of the puddle’s source does not satisfy the _____________________ 50 Flowers v. Wal-Mart Inc., 79 F.4th 449, 453 (5th Cir. 2023) (alteration i…
- Hogg, No. 6:24-cv-01752 (W.D. La. Nov. 4, 2025).“some positive evidence ... of how long the condition existed prior to the fall”
- Washington v. Brookshire Grocery Co, No. 5:23-cv-01623 (W.D. La. Feb. 3, 2025). “Importantly, on summary judgment, while [plaintiff] must show the condition existed for some period of time before her fall, ‘whether the period of time that a condition existed was sufficient to provide a merchant with constructive notic…
- Miller v. Michaels Stores, 98 F.4th 211 (5th Cir. 2024).published Accordingly, to survive summary judgment, a plaintiff must satisfy the “prerequisite” of putting forth “some positive evidence . . . of how long the 5 condition existed prior to the fall.” Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 331 (5th…
- Brass v. Wal-Mart Louisiana L L C, No. 3:22-cv-06146 (W.D. La. Dec. 18, 2023). Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330-31 (5th Cir. 2007).
- King v. PetSmart L L C, No. 3:21-cv-00225, 2023 WL 7930074 (W.D. La. Nov. 16, 2023).(finding that the “size and nature of the spill demonstrate that some period of time passed before Bagley’s accident. She has presented sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on the issue of constructive notice)
- Thompson v. D G Louisiana, No. 23-30016 (5th Cir. Oct. 5, 2023).unpublished“There is no bright line time period, but ‘some positive evidence is required of how long the condition existed prior to the fall”
- Flowers v. Wal-Mart, 79 F.4th 449 (5th Cir. 2023).published “[w]hether the period of time that a condition existed was sufficient to provide a merchant with constructive notice is a fact question that must be submitted to the jury”
- Johnson v. Dolgencorp, No. 22-30173, 2022 WL 17409608 (5th Cir. Dec. 2, 2022).unpublishedThe district court’s grant of summary judgment is therefore AFFIRMED. 9 834 F. App’x 58 , 63 (5th Cir. 2020) (quoting Reed v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (La. 3/4/98); 708 So. 2d 362, 365-66 ). 10 Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 331 (…
- Dixon v. Haza Foods of Louisiana, No. 21-30316 (5th Cir. Apr. 21, 2022).unpublishedThis temporal element is a “prerequisite” to the plaintiff’s claim, Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 331 (5th Cir. 2017) (quoting Allen v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 37,352, p. 5 (La. App. 2 Cir. 6/25/02); 850 So.2d 895, 898 )), and e…
Show 6 more citing cases
- Donaldson v. Sam's East, No. 21-30189, 2021 WL 4898724 (5th Cir. Oct. 20, 2021).unpublished Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc., 492 F.3d 328, 330 (5th Cir. 2007).
- Boutian v. Walmart, Inc., No. 2:20-cv-02881, 2021 WL 4243311 (E.D. La. Sept. 17, 2021).Plaintiff testified that she slipped on a grape.31 In addition, a witness to Plaintiff’s fall, Lena Cross, testified there was dirt and a liquid at the spot where Plaintiff fell.32 The Court finds Bagley v. Albertsons, Inc. instructive.33…
- Lisa Taylor v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 464 F. App'x 337 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- Ramona McDowell v. Wal-Mart Stores, Incorpo, No. 19-30768 (5th Cir. Apr. 30, 2020).unpublished
- Hamilton v. Lowes Home Centers L L C, No. 5:19-cv-01201 (W.D. La. Feb. 22, 2021).
- Levendis v. Harrah's New Orleans Mgmt. Co., No. 2:19-cv-01557 (E.D. La. Aug. 6, 2019).
v.
ALBERTSONS, INC., Defendant-Appellee
Sue Bagley slipped and fell in a puddle in the aisle of a store operated by Albert-son’s, Inc. (“Albertson’s”), injuring her back and hip. She sued, alleging the store either created the puddle or had constructive notice of it before her fall. After removal, the district court granted summary judgment for Albertson’s. Bagley appeals, and we reverse and remand.
I.
Bagley slipped and fell on a liquid substance spilled in an Albertson’s aisle. [1] No other shoppers were in the aisle when she fell, and several minutes elapsed before she could contact anyone for help. A fire[*330] man was the first person to come to her aid; he also fell while approaching her and later observed a trail of the substance down the aisle and into an adjacent aisle. Several employees began sliding halfway down the aisle when they later approached to assist. Although the employees opined that the liquid might have been meat blood leaking from a shopping cart, nobody could positively identify the substance.
Bagley sued in state court, seeking recovery for injuries to her back and hips resulting from the fall. Albertson’s removed and sought summary judgment, which the district court granted, finding that Bagley could not provide evidence to demonstrate that the store created the puddle or had constructive notice.
II.
Summary judgment is proper “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Disputes about material facts are genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). We review a summary judgment de novo. Skotak v. Tenneco Resins, Inc., 953 F.2d 909, 912 (5th Cir.1992).
As an element of a Louisiana delic-tual action for failure to maintain safe premises, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the “merchant either created or had actual or constructive notice of the condition which caused the damage, prior to the occurrence.” La.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 9:2800.6(B)(2). “ ‘Constructive notice’ means the claimant has proven that the condition existed for such a period of time that it would have been discovered if the merchant had exercised reasonable care.” Id. § 9:2800.6(C)(1). The statute “places a heavy burden of proof on plaintiffs” in slip and fall cases. Jones v. Brookshire Grocery Co., 847 So.2d 43, 48 (La.App. 2d Cir.2003). “Mere speculation or suggestion” is not sufficient to meet this burden, and courts will not infer constructive notice for the purposes of summary judgment where the plaintiffs allegations are “no more likely than any other potential scenario.” Allen v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 850 So.2d 895, 898-99 (LaApp. 2d Cir.2003).
III.
Bagley alleges that Albertson’s created the spill by either improperly wrapping meat products, or by improperly inspecting wrapped meat for rips. Bagley supports her allegations with the deposition testimony of two store employees who were present after her fall and opined that the spill was probably from a leaky meat package. Given that the employees are familiar with the appearance of meat effluence, their testimony is competent summary judgment evidence that the liquid substance was meat blood.
Bagley has presented no evidence as to how the liquid reached the floor. She attempts to rely on the testimony of a single employee who stated, “I was thinking it was like chicken blood or meat blood that just a customer stopped for a second and it was dripping out of the bottom of their buggy.” This statement is speculative at best, and even if it were sufficient evidence for a jury to find that the liquid came from a cart, it is yet another step to show Albertson’s responsibility for the leak. No reasonable jury could find that Bagley has presented sufficient evidence[*331] to demonstrate that Albertson’s created a leak.
Alternatively, Bagley alleges that Albertson’s had constructive notice of the puddle on the floor. Whether the period of time that a condition existed was sufficient to provide a merchant with constructive notice is a fact question that must be submitted to the jury. Allen, 850 So.2d at 898. “[H]owever, there remains the prerequisite showing of some time period.” Id. There is no bright line time period, but “some positive evidence is required of how long the condition existed prior to the fall.” Robinson v. Brookshires # 26, 769 So.2d 639, 642 (La.App. 2d Cir.2000).
The district court relied on the fact that Bagley could neither testify as to how long the puddle had been on the floor nor demonstrate the origin or nature of the liquid to imply a necessary passage of time. See Howard v. Family Dollar Store No. 5006, 914 So.2d 118, 122 (La.App. 2d Cir.2005). Bagley did, however, present testimony from the fireman that the spill covered a significant area extending through the aisle and into an adjoining back aisle. That testimony supports a reasonable inference that the liquid leaked from a customer’s cart. Bagley testified that when she entered the aisle and slipped, the aisle was empty. This supports a reasonable inference that the other cart had sufficient time to clear the aisle, implying the passage of “some period of time.”
In Howard, the plaintiff slipped in a “puddle of blue liquid” that had spilled next to a “box of cleaning supplies.” Id. at 119. The court declined “in the absence of additional evidence concerning the origin and mechanics of the spill to infer a correlation between the size of the spill and the length of time the spill existed prior to the incident.” Id. at 122. By comparison, in Broussard v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 741 So.2d 65 (La.App. 3d Cir.), writ denied, 742 So.2d 562 (La.1999), the court found sufficient facts to present constructive notice to the jury where a spill was “elongated, not uniform, and covers approximately three to four tiles, suggesting that it had spread over a period of time.” Id. at 69. The present case is more analogous to Broussard, because the size and nature of the spill demonstrate that some period of time passed before Bagley’s accident. She has presented sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on the issue of constructive notice.
The judgment is REVERSED, and this matter is REMANDED for further proceedings.
. The evidence and inferences from the summary judgment record must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Minter v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 423 F.3d 460, 465 (5th Cir.2005).