Shufersal Ordered to Pay NIS 170,000 to Customer Who Slipped in Store
A Be'er Sheva court ruled that supermarket chain Shufersal is liable for a 2018 incident where a customer slipped on a wet floor, leaving her with an 11.8% disability. The chain must pay damages and legal fees.
A Be'er Sheva Magistrates Court has ordered Israel's largest supermarket chain, Shufersal, to pay more than NIS 170,000 in compensation to a customer who was injured at a branch in the city over eight years ago.
The accident occurred in June 2018 when the customer slipped on a substance on the floor, likely cleaning fluid or liquid soap, and injured her hand. The injury left her with an 11.8% permanent disability. In 2022, she initiated legal proceedings against the retail chain through attorneys Yoram Mazuz and Tal Mazuz.
Shufersal denied the plaintiff's claims and contested that the incident had even occurred. The retailer further argued that the customer acted negligently by choosing to walk through an area where cleaning work was actively being conducted, thereby assuming an unreasonable risk.
In parallel, Shufersal filed a third-party claim against the subcontractor providing cleaning services at the branch, attempting to shift liability. The cleaning company, represented by attorney Rina Agulsky, countered that the floor was cleaned using a machine that leaves no moisture behind, suggesting the liquid might have been spilled by a customer. The contractor also noted that its agreement with Shufersal limits its liability to direct acts or omissions.
Judge Yaron Golan accepted the customer's version of events and rejected the claim against the subcontractor, stating:
"The claim that the cleaning company is responsible cannot be accepted."
Accordingly, full liability was placed on Shufersal, subject to a minor 5% reduction for contributory negligence attributed to the plaintiff.
In addition to the payment of over NIS 170,000 to the customer, Shufersal was ordered to cover court costs and attorney fees amounting to approximately NIS 39,000. The retail chain must also pay NIS 15,000 in legal expenses to the cleaning company.
