On Monday, July 6, 2026, the roof of a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Monmouth County, New Jersey, partially collapsed due to severe rainfall, sending large amounts of water into the store.
Authorities confirmed 27 individuals were located inside the store at the time of the incident, including two who became partially trapped under the fallen roof. The two trapped individuals safely freed themselves from the debris and escaped the building, with officials reporting no injuries at this time.
First responders, including Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Ocean Township police, and others, arrived at the scene within minutes and conducted several searches to confirm the store was clear.
Does Weather Impact Premises Liability Cases?
Accidents like these can happen anywhere, but may be more common in regions prone to severe weather and natural disasters, such as California. Severe rainfall, flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural disasters regularly affect Southern California communities including Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, and Santa Ana. In 2025, an Azusa Smart & Final grocery store faced a similar roof collapse incident during a severe rainstorm.
In cases such as these, where severe weather or storms cause property damage, a key legal issue is whether the damage was caused solely by a natural disaster (an “act of God”) or whether a property owner’s negligence also contributed, giving rise to liability under premises liability law. Generally, the distinction is as follows:
- Premises Liability: Under premises liability law, property owners have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe premises for customers, employees, and other lawful visitors. If a property owner knows or reasonably should know of a dangerous condition and fails to repair it, warn visitors, or otherwise address the hazard, the owner may be held liable for resulting injuries.
- Natural Disaster (Act of God): A natural disaster or “Act of God” refers to an extraordinary natural event that could not have been prevented or predicted. Typical natural disasters include unprecedented earthquakes, tornadoes, or floods. If injuries occur from unforeseeable events, property owners are typically not held liable.
However, there is often a gray area between an unavoidable natural disaster and a preventable hazard caused by a property owner’s negligence. For example, if the property owner is aware of structural deficiencies that could make the building more susceptible to heavy rainfall, such as drainage problems or improper roof maintenance, but fails to correct them, the owner may be negligent. If the roof later collapses due to severe rainfall, the property owner could face premises liability claims for any resulting injuries or fatalities. However, if the building is compliant with safety standards and properly maintained, and the roof collapses solely because of the severity of the storm, the collapse would more likely be attributed to the natural disaster rather than the property owner’s negligence.
While property owners cannot prevent natural disasters, they are responsible for maintaining safe premises and complying with applicable safety regulations. When negligent property maintenance contributes to injuries during or after a natural disaster, victims may have grounds for a premises liability claim.
For instance, if a Sherman Oaks grocery store owner fails to properly maintain the property’s drainage system, severe rainfall may cause leaks inside the store and create hazardous walking conditions. If the property owner knew or should have known about the dangerous conditions and failed to place warning signs around the wet areas, a person injured in a resulting slip-and-fall accident may have a valid premises liability claim. An experienced Sherman Oaks personal injury attorney can elevate your case in instances like this.
Contact An Experienced Los Angeles Premises Liability Attorney
Whether it is grocery shopping or browsing your favorite store, all customers deserve to feel safe. If you suffered an injury due to the negligence of a store in Los Angeles or Orange County, you should contact experienced Los Angeles premises liability attorney John J. Perlstein for a free consultation.
Sherman Oaks personal injury attorney, John J. Perlstein, has over 25 years of experience practicing California premises liability law, helping secure just legal outcomes for individuals injured on other people’s property. Contact the Law Office of John J. Perlstein by calling (213) 252-1070 or by filling out this form.