A man bitten by a pygmy rattle snake last year in a Wal-Mart store in Pembroke Pines, Fla. is suing the retail giant for negligence.

The snake bit Hollywood, Fla. resident Jay Richitelli, 42, on July 6 when he was shopping in the lawn and garden section of the store.

He is seeking unspecified funds, but his lawyer said his medical bills could exceed $100,000. Richitelli argues the retail chain should have done more to prevent the attack since it was not the first pygmy rattler to strike Wal-Mart customers in Florida. There were two attacks at separate stores in Central Florida in 2006.

Wal-Mart declined comment because of the pending litigation, but a spokesman stressed that the safety of the store's customers is always top priority.