WELLINGTON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Lake Worth resident has filed a civil lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. and an individual employee, alleging he was pepper-sprayed inside a Wellington store while waiting to check out.
The complaint, filed Jan. 12, 2026, is captioned Fabian Camilo Suarez Martinez v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., and David Rinderle and is assigned Case No. 502026CA000374XXXAMB in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida.
In the filing, the plaintiff is represented by The Law Offices of Benjamin D. Rust II, L.L.C., with attorneys Benjamin D. Rust II and Jinnette M. Ruiz listed on the complaint. The complaint does not list defense counsel.
According to the complaint, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. owned, operated, managed, and maintained a retail location at 10510 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, Florida 33414, described as a store open to the general public. The plaintiff alleges he was lawfully on the premises as a business invitee on or about Nov. 28, 2024, and proceeded to the checkout area to complete a purchase.
The complaint alleges that while the plaintiff was waiting in line at the cashier’s station, David Rinderle, described as a cashier and employee of Dollar Tree, “suddenly discharged a canister of pepper spray” directly into the plaintiff’s face. The filing alleges the chemical irritant struck the plaintiff in the eye and affected other parts of his body, including his back, shoulders, chest, and torso.
The complaint alleges the plaintiff suffered physical injuries described as burning, irritation, and pain in the eye area, as well as irritation to other areas, and also alleges emotional distress. The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $50,000, exclusive of costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees, according to the filing.
The lawsuit asserts multiple counts. Against Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., the plaintiff brings a negligence claim alleging the company owed a duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition and to protect customers from foreseeable harm, and further alleges the company failed to properly hire, train, supervise, and monitor the employee involved. The complaint also includes a count labeled vicarious liability against Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., alleging the employee was acting within the course and scope of employment at the time of the incident and that the company is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, as stated in the filing.
Separately, the plaintiff asserts assault and battery claims against Rinderle. The assault count alleges the employee’s conduct created a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact when he retrieved and pointed the pepper spray. The battery count alleges the employee intentionally caused harmful and offensive contact by discharging pepper spray into the plaintiff’s face and body.
The complaint includes a demand for a jury trial on issues described as triable by jury. All allegations are claims made by the plaintiff in the complaint and have not been proven in court.
The original complaint, Fabian Camilo Suarez Martinez v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., and David Rinderle, Case No. 502026CA000374XXXAMB, as filed Jan. 12, 2026, with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court, can be viewed here.
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