Reyna | Cruz

Initially, the district court sided with Costco. They argued there was no proof of how long the smoothie had been on the floor, meaning Costco hadn't breached its duty to keep the premises safe. For many, this would have been the end of the road. But Reyna and her legal team didn't back down. A Victory for the "Ordinary Person"

When Reyna filed a negligence claim, the core of the dispute wasn’t whether she fell—surveillance footage confirmed that—but whether Costco had "constructive notice." In plain English: Had the spill been there long enough that the staff should have seen it and cleaned it up?. The Legal Hurdle: Summary Judgment reyna cruz

While we should all watch our step, businesses have a non-negotiable duty to exercise "ordinary care" for their patrons. Initially, the district court sided with Costco

The story of Cruz v. Costco Wholesale Corporation is more than just a legal footnote—it’s a powerful reminder of why individual persistence matters when facing corporate giants. The Incident That Changed Everything But Reyna and her legal team didn't back down

In a significant turn of events in April 2025, the appellate court reversed the decision. By carefully reviewing surveillance footage—even though it didn't show the exact moment of the spill—the court concluded there were enough "genuine issues of material fact" to let the case proceed to a jury.