A 56-year-old Virginia woman is suing Outback Steakhouse for $1.5 million, saying she slipped on mashed potatoes at a Sterling location in May 2023 and suffered serious, lasting injuries. Her case moved to federal court after an earlier filing in Loudoun Count
On the way to the restroom at an Outback Steakhouse in Sterling, Virginia, Tracy Renshaw says her night ended face-first on a hard floor.
Renshaw, 56, is suing the restaurant chain for $1.5 million over an incident she says happened in May 2023. In her lawsuit, she alleges she stepped on a slippery substance that she says was mashed potatoes, then fell and landed face-first.
The claim is now before a federal court. The lawsuit was previously filed in Loudoun County Circuit Court and moved to federal court last month.
Renshaw argues the restaurant is responsible because it failed to keep the premises safe for customers. She says the chain did not warn diners about the fall hazard and that the spilled food remained on the floor long enough to create what the lawsuit describes as “unreasonably dangerous” conditions.
Her complaint says the restaurant “breached their duties of care” by allowing a slippery foreign substance to remain on the floor, failing to remove the foreign substance within a reasonable amount of time, and failing to warn customers about the spill.
Outback Steakhouse did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Renshaw’s lawsuit also points to the impact of the injuries she says she suffered. She claims she has experienced significant pain and medical costs after the accident, and that injuries related to the crash have reduced her ability to work.
The timeline matters here: the alleged incident took place in May 2023, the case initially went to Loudoun County Circuit Court, and it shifted to federal court last month—signaling the dispute is headed deeper into the legal process, with the claimed damages at $1.5 million.
Outback Steakhouse lawsuit slip and fall mashed potatoes Sterling Virginia $1.5 million Tracy Renshaw federal court Loudoun County Circuit Court
Mashed potatoes on the floor sounds like an obvious lawsuit tbh. Like how do you not see that??
I feel bad for her but $1.5 million seems insane for slipping. Could be lawyer math. Either way they should have cleaned it up.
Wait so this was in May 2023 and only moved to federal court last month? I thought federal court was like automatic if you sue a big chain. Also mashed potatoes?? why would it be “unreasonably dangerous” if it was just food lol
All these slip and fall cases are why nobody trusts restaurants anymore. Next thing you know they’re saying the floor is haunted by potato gravity or something. If she really face-planted then yeah it’s bad, but $1.5M makes me roll my eyes.