Man bitten by snake at Pembroke Pines Wal-Mart suing retailer for negligence
Feb 15, 2009~
Wal-Mart is full of signs highlighting low prices, but there should be another warning customers that they might be attacked by snakes on the premises, a bitten shopper says.
Hollywood resident Jay Richitelli filed suit against the mega retailer because a venomous pygmy rattlesnake bit him July 6 last year in the lawn and garden section of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Pembroke Pines. He is seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages in the Broward Circuit Court case. His attorneys said his medical bills could top $100,000.
Richitelli, 42, was the third Floridian within a three-year span to fall victim to a pygmy rattler - a small, ill-tempered snake - slithering around a Wal-Mart garden center. Two men were attacked in separate incidents in 2006 at stores in Central Florida.
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This really makes me think twice now. Before I reach into some pots of plants. Next time I am at a garden center.. ewwwwww~~ ~
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I bet you would have to check out a pile of leaves first.. ewwwwwww
I don't like spiders N snakes ~ ~
if you cant see completely where you are reaching then dont shove you hand in there because if its not a snake it could be a really nasty spider too
get the plants for you.
If so this is like suing over a bee sting.
Frivolous law suites are what draws up everyone prices.
Now if the snake was a illegal passenger on imported freight the us customs may have some explaining to do, and whomever at walmart who unpacked the imported products.....
Frivolous IS a bee sting, however, $100,000 worth of bills for a bout with poisonous snake infection is not frivolous. That would bankrupt me, of course I wouldn't be living in FL anyway. For the very reason that the swamp keeps trying to take back that state. They should at least post "Shopper beware! We are not responsible for what we do because we are a corporation. Only individuals pay for their dangerous mistakes."
I can see the graden center looking for these hazards to keep them away, but nothing is 100% sure when getting rid of snakes or other small/sneaky dangers.
If so this is like suing over a bee sting.
Frivolous law suites are what draws up everyone prices.
A quick bit of googling shows that they are very common throughout Florida, the Carolinas and parts of Texas.
This whole suggestion to "exterminate better" I find troublesome.
Do we need to douse everything with poison rather than just pay closer attention to our encounters with the Natural World?
Even if this had happened in New York City where there are very few snakes, where there are plants and natural 'habitat' for a creture to bed, live or nest, they will find their way there. People need to stay aware of the surroundings and take caution when sticking their hands into places where animals and other creatures find refuge. Hate it for the man, but I think he's a rea asshole for suing. Thanks to him,and the whole lot of sue happy idiots, the whole nation suffers the increase in prices.
uh... you were THERE? You know what the snake thought??? Wow.
I was chased by a red racer snake in Michigan. I was 4. Believe me I didn't attack him. We were in a large field with tons of room for him to get away.
I think the asshole was probably just as startled and threatened as the snake. Shopping in a store and picking up mdse. to select it, one expects to be fairly benign. But the snake didn't pay a penny, it cost the man $100,000 so far.
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