Customer's trip over floor runner results in suit against Portillo's

A Cook County woman is suing Portillo's over claims she tripped and fell over a floor runner at its Tinley Park restaurant.

Carolyn Schlegal filed a lawsuit May 14 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Portillo Restaurant Group LLC, citing negligence and breach of statute.

Schlegal claims she was a customer at the Portillo's at 15900 Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park on May 15, 2012, when she was instructed to go to a certain location in the restaurant to pick up her food and then tripped on a rubber floor runner that was curled up on the end, causing injuries to her limbs, back, spine, neck and head.

She is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 and is being represented in the case by Joliet attorney Richard B. Taylor.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L005193.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.