A Russell County jury awarded $1.17 million to the estate of a woman who died three years ago after lawyers argued that she was injured from an incident inside a Phenix City grocery store.

The estate of Muriel Battle sued JTM Corp., doing business as Piggly Wiggly.

At issue was an incident that happened in 2018.

Though Battle did not die as a result of the injuries sustained in the store, lawyers said she suffered from headaches and nightmares.

Erby Fischer with Morgan & Morgan represented the estate.

“We’re pleased the jury saw how this injury severely diminished the quality of our client’s life in her final years and recognized the defendant’s role in causing her injuries,” Fischer said.

According to the suit, Battle was injured in March 2018 when Piggly Wiggly store employees tried to stop a man suspected of stealing nearly $100 worth of meat that was concealed in his pants.

Battle, then 85, was waiting to checkout as the man got in line behind her.

When employees attempted to stop him, the man threw Battle to the ground. That man has since died.

JTM co-owner Keith Milligan told WRBL in Columbus, Ga., “Unfortunately, it gets more and more difficult to run a family business in the current legal climate.”