A woman named Tammy Martin has filed a lawsuit against Family Dollar after a tragic roof collapse at one of its Missouri stores killed a man and left her with serious injuries. The shocking incident happened at a Family Dollar outlet in Kansas City on July 27, 2025, and has raised many questions about the safety of the building.
What Happened at the Store?
On July 27, Martin and other customers were shopping inside the Family Dollar store when the roof suddenly collapsed. According to the lawsuit, the falling debris landed directly on Martin, causing serious injuries to her head, back, neck, arms, legs, and other parts of her body. A 58-year-old man was killed in the incident.
The lawsuit claims that the store’s roof had already shown signs of damage and weakness before the collapse. Martin says the store and property owners failed to take action even after warnings that the roof “looked like it was going to fall.”
Why Tammy Martin Is Suing
Tammy Martin has sued Family Dollar Stores of Missouri, Family Dollar, Inc., and Arthur Fels Company—the owner of the property. She blames them for not fixing a damaged support pillar that had been knocked down in a car accident back in 2016.
According to her, the failure to repair that pillar led to the roof becoming unstable and dangerous.
Her legal team says this issue was ignored for years. As a result, the building slowly became unsafe, and this finally led to the deadly collapse. Martin is asking for more than $25,000 in damages for her injuries, medical bills, and pain.
Warnings Were Ignored
Just two days before the collapse, a property violation report was filed with the Kansas City code enforcement office. It said the building was “tilting,” which was a clear sign something was wrong. Yet no emergency repairs or inspections were done in time to prevent the disaster.
Martin’s lawyer, James Stigall, told the media that this tragedy could have been avoided. He said both Family Dollar and the property owner were aware of the danger but didn’t act.
Official Investigation Still Ongoing
The Kansas City Police Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are currently investigating the case. More details may come out as they continue their work to find out what exactly caused the collapse and who is to blame.
This sad incident has not only claimed a life but also changed the lives of the injured victims, including Tammy Martin. Her lawsuit highlights the importance of building safety and regular inspections, especially in stores where people shop daily. The case could also push for stricter rules to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.
