Overview

• On March 22, Sadie Novotny was pinned by a falling cabinet at Costco’s Santa Rosa store and suffered multiple permanent injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.
• The lawsuit was filed April 29 in Alameda County Superior Court and moved to the Northern District Court on June 5 at Costco’s request.
• Novotny seeks more than $14 million, including $5 million each for physical pain and suffering and emotional distress, $100,000 for past medical expenses and lost wages, and $4 million for future costs.
• The complaint alleges the cabinet display was precariously positioned on a worn wooden pallet with thin legs and that Costco failed to secure the merchandise or train employees in display safety.
• Costco has not publicly commented and is accused of withholding incident footage; a case management meeting is scheduled for September.