A Virginia woman is suing Outback Steakhouse for $1.5 million after slipping on mashed potatoes and falling face-first onto the floor at a restaurant in Sterling, Virginia. Tracy J. Renshaw, 56, claims the chain failed to warn customers of the hazard, causing her “serious and permanent injuries.”
The incident occurred on May 14, 2023, while Renshaw was dining with her family. According to the federal lawsuit, she stepped on a “slippery foreign substance, which appeared to be mashed potatoes” while walking to the restroom, leading to a fall that caused “great pain of body and mind,” diminished earning capacity, and ongoing medical expenses.
The complaint alleges Outback breached its duty of care by allowing the mashed potatoes to remain on the floor without posting warnings. Outback, in its response, denied the allegations, arguing it had no notice of the condition and that Renshaw was not injured to the extent claimed. The company also invoked the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers liable for employee negligence.
Outback has faced previous lawsuits over customer injuries, including a Florida man whose toilet allegedly shattered, a South Carolina woman who ingested a metal bristle, and another patron who swallowed glass from a sweet potato. A spokesperson for Outback did not respond to requests for comment.
