Costco lawsuit unveils major issue with warehouse club stores

For the most part, people tend to have a positive experience shopping at Costco.

Not only are those warehouse club stores fun to explore, but there’s something to be said for getting to snack on free samples at every corner if you come at the right time.

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Another fun aspect of shopping at Costco is getting to take a load off at the food court.

Related: Costco brings back huge perk members have missed

The food court is loaded with great deals, from the famous inflation-proof $1.50 hot dog and soda combo to the ice cream and giant chocolate chip cookie.

In fact, some people go to Costco for the express purpose of grabbing a cheap lunch, even if they don’t have a shopping list they need to tackle.

Shopping at Costco requires some caution

As enjoyable as it might be to shop at Costco, navigating those warehouse club stores can also be a challenge for members.

For one thing, Costco stores tend to get pretty crowded, especially on weekends. That means it’s harder to get around without being tapped (or, worse yet, plowed into) by somebody else’s oversized shopping cart.

Related: Costco CEO admits warehouse club may change its hours

It’s also a bit too easy to injure yourself in the course of your shopping, whether it’s pulling your back out lifting a heavy case of water off the ground or straining a muscle in the course of grabbing something large from a higher-up shelf.

Costco does have employees all over its warehouse club stores, so it’s possible to ask for help. But if you’re in a rush and a store employee isn’t immediately available, you may be inclined to forgo that assistance and do your own heavy lifting.

Costco faces huge lawsuit over recent customer injury

Although Costco takes steps to make its warehouse club stores as safe as possible, sometimes, accidents happen. Now, the warehouse club giant is being sued for more than $14 million after a shopper in California sustained a serious injury at a Costco store.

Sadie Novotny was shopping at a Costco location in Santa Rosa when a liquor cabinet fell on her, causing a traumatic brain injury, according to a lawsuit filed.

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Novotny and her husband were trying to buy a cabinet when the floor model fell on her, the suit says. Novotny sustained injuries to her shoulder, hand, fingers, and lower back on top of the brain injury.

According to the lawsuit, the cabinet was placed on a wooden pallet and fell without warning.

It’s unclear whether Costco will seek to settle the lawsuit out of court. But it won’t be surprising if this incident prompts Costco to change its approach to laying out its warehouse club stores.

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In addition to exercising more caution with oversized items, Costco may want to station more employees around the store to help with heavy lifting. It could prevent a host of injuries — and potentially spare the company litigation.

Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.

Related: Costco quietly drops popular product, saddens fans

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