MAN, 84, SUED WAFFLE HOUSE FOR $50K+ OVER WINDOW ADS
A Waffle House lawsuit alleged that window ads for a Strawberry Shortcake Waffle distracted a Florida man before he tripped over a curb.
Edward Bowlds, 84 at the time, and his wife, Dorothy Bowlds, sued Waffle House and franchisee East Coast Waffles, Inc. over a fall that allegedly happened on April 17, 2025, at a Waffle House in Bartow, in Polk County. The couple is seeking more than $50,000.
The complaint said Edward was “distracted by the advertisements [in the Waffle House window], and he unknowingly tripped and fell over the curb which resulted in severe and permanent injuries,” PEOPLE reported.
Edward and Dorothy arrived and parked at the restaurant that day, the complaint said. Edward then allegedly tripped over a curb while walking toward the entrance.
What the complaint claimed
The couple described the curb as unusually high, poorly maintained and hard to tell apart from the parking lot. They alleged it had no paint, markings or warning signs to tell pedestrians about the change in height.
The ads in question promoted Waffle House’s limited-edition Strawberry Shortcake Waffle, and the lawsuit put them at the center of the case.
“The size, placement and orientation of these window advertisements posed a distraction to customers,” the complaint said, Florida Record reported.
It added that the ads “capture the attention of customers approaching the sidewalk and divert their attention away from the trip hazard posed by the curb.”
The couple argued the curb, the missing warning markings and the advertising together created an unreasonably dangerous condition. They brought claims of premises-liability negligence and general negligence.
The complaint listed a torn rotator cuff, pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish and medical expenses. Along with the damages, the couple asked for interest, costs and attorneys’ fees, and requested a jury trial.
What happened next
Before any lawsuit, a demand letter reportedly offered to settle the matter for $300,000, The Independent reported. The outlet said Waffle House declined.
The couple first filed the case in Florida state court, and Waffle House later had it removed to federal court. It is now in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, FindLaw reported.
An amended complaint filed April 1, 2026, names Waffle House, Inc. and East Coast Waffles, Inc. as defendants.
On April 15, 2026, both companies filed an answer denying the allegations. They said “the premises are maintained in a reasonably safe condition.”
The defendants also contended that Edward failed to use reasonable care to protect himself.
The claims remain allegations.
On June 29, 2026, the federal court entered a case-management and scheduling order. The trial is scheduled to begin November 1, 2027.
