Bartow Man Sues Waffle House, Says Strawberry Shortcake Waffle Ad Caused Him to Trip and Fall
An 84-year-old Bartow man has filed a federal lawsuit against Waffle House, claiming a window advertisement for the chain’s limited-edition Strawberry Shortcake Waffle distracted him so badly that he tripped over a curb and suffered serious injuries, including a broken nose and a torn rotator cuff.
According to court filings in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Edward Bowlds was walking across the parking lot with his wife on April 17, 2025, heading toward the restaurant’s entrance, when his attention was drawn to large promotional signage advertising a limited-edition Strawberry Shortcake Waffle.
As he stepped up onto what the lawsuit describes as an unusually tall curb, his attention was distracted by the advertisements, and he tripped and fell over the curb, sustaining severe and permanent injuries.
The lawsuit doesn’t just blame Bowlds’ own footing, it places the fault squarely on the restaurant’s marketing choices. The complaint alleges the curb at this particular Waffle House was abnormally high and poorly maintained, with no paint or markings signaling the change in elevation from the parking lot to the sidewalk, and that the window advertisement itself created a distraction for customers.
The filing argues the signage wasn’t incidental, it was strategically placed. “These advertisements in the window were of a size, placement, and orientation that they are clearly meant to attract the attention of customers who were already parked,” the lawsuit states.
Bowlds’ attorney, W. Lee Clark, told The Independent that his client “is recovering from his injuries, but unfortunately he will deal with pain and limitations the rest of his life.” A separate report noted that Bowlds’ family feels strongly that Waffle House was negligent and is eager to have his day in court to prove it.
