Suit filed against Tucumcari's Family Dollar

The Family Dollar store in Tucumcari and an employee are being sued for negligence after a now-deceased woman tripped and was injured because the store’s walkway allegedly was obstructed.

Sharon Valencia of Tucumcari filed the complaint Dec. 15 in Tucumcari district court on behalf of the deceased Frances Chavez, her mother.

Megan Salazar was identified in the lawsuit as a store employee at the time of the accident.

The lawsuit states Chavez was visiting the Family Dollar on Nov. 27, 2020, and that the store and Salazar failed “to exercise ordinary care to keep the premises safe for use for visitors, by failing to maintain an unobstructed walkway” or aisle, leading to a “dangerous condition.”

The complaint states Chavez tripped and fell, suffering injuries.

It wasn’t clear in the complaint when Chavez died or whether her injuries contributed to her death.

The complaint requests compensatory damages, court costs, attorney fees and additional damages.

Gregory Abel of Parnall Law Firm in Albuquerque filed the suit on behalf of Valencia and Chavez.

An email sent to Abel last week requesting comment and more details about the case was not answered.

Kayleigh Campbell, media relations representative for Dollar Tree, which owns the Family Dollar chain, stated an email: “As a standard practice, we do not comment on litigation.”