Florence County barbecue restaurant, highchair manufacturer sued after 2021 fall

FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A defective highchair buckle is to blame for a toddler falling out of the device and fracturing his skull in 2021, a newly filed lawsuit claims.

The toddler’s father is suing the highchair’s manufacturer and distributor along with School House Bar-B-Que in Scranton on grounds of negligence and breach of warranty.

The family visited the restaurant on Sept. 16, 2021 where the child was “properly buckled” into the highchair by his father, who was unaware of the faulty buckle.

“Due to the defective buckle, (the minor) fell out of the Subject Highchair. He hit his head on the floor and sustained a fracture to his skull and a traumatic brain injury. Due to the TBI, (the minor) has experienced developmental delays and cognitive problems,” according to the lawsuit.

School House Bar-B-Que, located inside the former Scranton Colored School, was named the Lake City Chamber of Commerce Restuarant of the Year in 2014 and once hosted NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, according to SC Picture Project.

Owner Stacy Mims told News13 Monday he was aware the lawsuit was filed but declined further comment.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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