Indiana woman wins nearly $1M after slipping on ice at Panera Bread

(WANE) — An Allen County jury awarded a woman nearly $1 million Wednesday after she sued Panera Bread for an injury she suffered while leaving a Fort Wayne location.

According to the original complaint, the plaintiff, Angela Frost, worked as a DoorDash driver and arrived at the Panera location on Dupont Road in January 2023 to grab an order. As she exited the building, she slipped on ice and fell onto the walkway.

Morgan & Morgan, an injury law firm that represented Frost, said in a press release Friday that Frost broke her left elbow in the fall, which required surgery and “hardware” being permanently inserted into her arm. The plaintiffs argued that Panera did not follow company safety protocols and allowed the buildup of ice that caused the fall.

The complaint asked for a jury trial and compensatory damages to pay for medical bills, loss of income and “past and future pain and suffering.”

In response, Panera argued that Frost did not specify her financial losses enough in the complaint and that an outdoor maintenance contractor, identified as a third party by Panera, may have been liable for Frost’s damages.

In June 2024, a court ruling excluded the outdoor contractor from being liable from damages, and a jury ruled in favor of Frost Wednesday. The jury determined that damages involved in the case totaled $987,000 and that Panera was 100% at fault.

“Our client now suffers from daily pain and problems in her elbow that impact everything from her job at an RV assembly plant to her ability to enjoy time with her grandchildren,” said Morgan & Morgan Founder John Morgan and attorney Brandon W. Smith in Friday’s press release. “We’re happy the jury agreed that Panera failed in its duty to maintain safe premises and that they awarded a just verdict that will compensate her for what she has lost.”

According to the press release, Panera had offered a $125,000 settlement before the trial, which Frost declined.