How to keep your socks in place
Use these tricks to prevent your socks from slipping out of your shoes again.
Problem solved, USA TODAY
A Virginia woman is seeking $1.5 million from Outback Steakhouse, an Australian-themed casual dining restaurant chain, after she claims she slipped on mashed potatoes inside the restaurant and fell face-first onto the floor, sustaining serious and permanent injuries.
Tracy J. Renshaw, 56, claims the incident occurred on May 14, 2023, while she was dining with her family at Outback Steakhouse in Sterling, Virginia. The lawsuit, first filed in Loudoun County Circuit Court in May 2025 and later transferred to federal court on May 27, 2026, accuses the restaurant of failing to maintain a safe environment for its customers.
Renshaw was walking to the bathroom when she stepped on a slippery object on the floor that looked like mashed potatoes, according to the complaint. The fall caused her to land face-first on the hard floor, according to the complaint.
Her application claims the chain had a legal obligation to maintain a safe environment and warn customers of the dangers. The paper alleges that no warnings about the substance were posted and that the restaurant left the spill on the floor for an unreasonable amount of time.
Lawsuit alleges negligence and permanent damages
Renshaw’s complaint says the situation created an “unreasonably dangerous” situation for patrons and alleges negligence for failing to address or clean up the spill. The lawsuit also alleges that the fall caused her to experience significant pain, impaired her ability to work, and incurred ongoing medical expenses.
The lawsuit does not provide a detailed medical explanation of her injuries, and her attorney has not publicly detailed her condition.
Although the lawsuit is ongoing, Outback Steakhouse has denied the charges. The company claimed it had not notified it of any hazardous conditions and had no obligation to post a warning about the alleged leak. He also disputed claims about the extent of Renshaw’s injuries.
USA TODAY has reached out to attorneys for Outback Steakhouse and Renshaw for additional comment on the allegations.
Past injury lawsuits related to chains
The Independent previously reported on several lawsuits involving Outback Steakhouse locations in various states, centering on allegations of injury to customers. In one case, a Florida man filed a lawsuit alleging he was seriously injured when a toilet at Outback in Ocala allegedly “cracked” while he was using it.
In another case, a South Carolina woman was awarded $315,000 in damages after she claimed she ingested a metal hair embedded in a chicken dish, requiring emergency surgery to remove the hair from her esophagus. The incident involved allegations that hair grew from a wire brush used to clean grills at the Outback store she visited.
Other lawsuits cited in previous reports include one in South Carolina involving a customer who allegedly swallowed broken glass in a plate of sweet potatoes, and one in Oregon in which a diner claimed he broke two of his molars by biting into a piece of plate that had gotten into his food.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or X @athompsonUSAT..
