Darci Williamson v. BR Pig, LLC - Louisiana Court of Appeal Ruling

Louisiana Court of Appeal

Filed March 4th, 2026

Detected March 4th, 2026

Summary

The Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, granted a writ in Darci Williamson v. BR Pig, LLC, reversing a trial court's denial of a summary judgment motion. The court vacated the denial, finding that the defendant met the requirements to challenge the plaintiff's claims under the Louisiana Merchant Liability Act.

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What changed

The Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, has vacated and reversed a trial court's denial of a summary judgment motion filed by BR Pig, LLC (d/b/a Shopper's Value Foods) in the case of Darci Williamson v. BR Pig, LLC. The appellate court found that the defendant was required to show an absence of factual support for the elements of the Louisiana Merchant Liability Act, La. R.S. 9:2800.6, or La. Civ. Code art. 2317.1. The ruling emphasizes that a plaintiff must prove the condition presented an unreasonable risk of harm, the defendant had actual or constructive knowledge of the risk, and the defendant failed to exercise reasonable care.

This decision has significant implications for retailers facing premises liability claims in Louisiana. The court's reversal means the summary judgment motion will likely be granted in favor of BR Pig, LLC, potentially dismissing the plaintiff's case at this stage. Retailers should review their premises liability protocols and ensure they are actively exercising reasonable care to identify and mitigate hazardous conditions to avoid similar outcomes. The ruling also clarifies the application of the risk/utility balancing test and the definition of constructive notice under Louisiana law.

What to do next

Review premises liability protocols for compliance with Louisiana Merchant Liability Act standards.
Ensure active identification and mitigation of hazardous conditions in retail spaces.
Consult legal counsel regarding the implications of this ruling on ongoing or potential premises liability litigation.

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March 4, 2026 Get Citation Alerts Download PDF Add Note

Darci Williamson v. BR Pig, LLC DBA Shoppers Value Foods

Louisiana Court of Appeal

Citations: None known
Docket Number: 2025 CW 0813
Precedential Status: Unknown Status
Opinion
Authorities (1)
Cited By (0)
Summaries (0)
Similar Cases (0)
PDF

Combined Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

DARCI WILLIAMSON NO. 2025 CW 0813
VERSUS PAGE 1 OF 2
BR PIG, LLC D/B/A SHOPPER'S MARCH 4, 2026

VALUE FOODS

In Re: BR Pig, LLC d/b/a Shoppers Value Foods, applying for
supervisory writs, City Court Judicial District Court,
Parish of East Baton Rouge, No. 22-02886.

BEFORE : LANIER, WOLFE, AND HESTER, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. The trial court’s May 14, 2025 judgment denying
the motion for summary judgment filed by defendant, BR Pig, LLC
D/B/A Shopper’s Value Foods, is vacated and reversed. To prevail
on its motion for summary judgment, defendant was required to show
an absence of factual support for any of the elements of the
Louisiana Merchant Liability Act, codified under La. R.S.
9:2800.6. Regardless of whether La. R.S. 9:2800.6 or La. Civ. Code
art. 2317.1 applies, a plaintiff must prove the condition presented
an unreasonable risk of harm, the defendant had actual or
constructive knowledge of the risk, and the defendant failed to
exercise reasonable care. Woods v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., 2022-
0191 (La. App. Ist Cir. 9/16/22), 353 So.3d 182. Additionally, in
Farrell v. Circle K Stores, Inc., 2022-00849 (La. 3/17/23), 359
So.3d 467, the Louisiana Supreme Court stated, whether a claim
arises in negligence under La. Civ. Code art. 2315 or premises
liability under La. Civ. Code art. 2317.1, the traditional
duty/risk analysis is the same.

Courts apply the risk/utility balancing test to determine
whether there was a breach of the duty owed by defendant to
plaintiff, and the risk/utility balancing test considers four

factors: (1) utility of the complained-of condition; (2)
likelihood and magnitude of harm, including the obviousness and
apparentness of the condition; (3) cost of preventing the harm;

and (4) nature of the plaintiff’s activities in terms of social
utility or whether the activities were dangerous by nature. Id.
Constructive notice means the claimant has proven that the
condition existed for such a period of time that it would have
been discovered if the merchant had exercised reasonable care. ha.
R.S. 9:2800.6(C) (1). This court has also held that, though there
is no bright line time period sufficient for a merchant exercising
reasonable care to have constructive notice of a hazardous
condition, a claimant must make a positive showing that the
hazardous condition existed for some period of time before the
fall and that such time was sufficient to place the merchant on
notice of its existence. Nash v. Rouse’s Enters., LLC, 2015-1101
(La. App. Ist Cir. 2/26/16), 191 So.3d 599. In Nash, this court
held defendant grocery store’s failure to detect spilled rice
within a 5-10 minute timeframe was insufficient to show a lack of
“reasonable care.” Id. at 602.

In this case, the surveillance footage of the incident shows
that the hazard, a white substance similar in consistency to sour
cream or yogurt, existed for exactly one minute and
STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

NO. 2025 CW 0813

PAGE 2 OF 2

nineteen seconds before plaintiff slipped. To establish
constructive notice, plaintiff provides only her own deposition
testimony stating, since staff responded quickly after being
alerted of her slip incident, there was sufficient time for staff
to rectify the hazard in the one minute and nineteen seconds it
existed. This court finds plaintiff has provided no factual support
to create a genuine issue of material fact showing defendant had
actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard prior to her slip
incident. The motion for summary judgment filed by defendant is
granted and plaintiff’s claims against defendant, BR Pig, LLC D/B/A
Shopper’s Value Foods, are dismissed with prejudice.

WIL
EW
CHH

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

ERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT