BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A Boca Raton woman has filed a civil negligence lawsuit against a local restaurant and the property owner, claiming she suffered permanent injuries after falling at an outdoor dining entrance last year. The case, Colleen Stocker v. The Blue Dog in Boca, Inc. and Simon Property Group, Inc., Case No. 502025CA012166XXXAMB, was filed November 21, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County.

The complaint, submitted electronically the same morning, states that plaintiff Colleen Stocker alleges both defendants failed to maintain a safe walking area at the restaurant located at 6000 Glades Road, Suite 1008C, within Boca Raton’s Town Center mall. Stocker is represented by Morgan & Morgan, P.A., with attorney Noah Pollock signing the filing.

According to the lawsuit, Stocker was walking through the entrance of the restaurant’s outdoor dining section on December 30, 2024, when she “suddenly and unexpectedly fell” due to what she describes as an unlevel and elevated surface. She claims the entrance area had improper construction features, including lack of uniform stair riser height, absence of handrails, no paint striping, and abrupt changes in elevation. The complaint asserts that these conditions created a “dangerous and defective” environment.

Both The Blue Dog in Boca, Inc., a Florida profit corporation, and Simon Property Group, Inc., a foreign profit corporation and owner of the premises, are accused of negligence. Stocker alleges each entity had a non-delegable duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition for business invitees and failed to correct hazards that should have been discovered through reasonable inspection.

The filing lists an extensive series of alleged failures by both defendants, including allowing uneven or broken surfaces to remain, failing to comply with building codes, not installing proper handrail systems, and not warning patrons about the condition of the walkway. The complaint further alleges the hazardous condition had existed long enough that both entities “knew or should have known” about it.

Stocker claims she suffered permanent bodily injury as a result of the fall. Her alleged injuries include physical pain, mental anguish, disability, loss of earning ability, and medical expenses. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000, exclusive of costs and interest, and demands a jury trial.

The filing states the incident occurred within Palm Beach County and that venue is proper because both companies conduct regular business operations in the county. Simon Property Group is named specifically for owning or maintaining the property where the restaurant operates, while The Blue Dog in Boca is accused of directly controlling and managing the outdoor dining entrance.

The complaint is composed entirely of allegations. No response from the defendants was included in the electronic filing, and no hearing dates have yet been scheduled.

The original document, as filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, can be downloaded here.