A woman is suing the owners of an apartment complex over a broken ankle she says she suffered after she slipped and fell on ice.
Jacqueline Purchase filed a lawsuit against James D. and Brenda J. Hayden on April 6 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Purchase says she was living at an East Belle Avenue apartment building the Haydens own in Belleville. She was walking on a driveway that was covered in ice caused from a downspout that was draining snow melt from the apartment's roof onto the walkway when she suddenly slipped and fell, according to the complaint.
In addition to her broken ankle, Purchase experienced disability, disfigurement, great physical pain, mental anguish and loss of a normal life, the suit states. She also says she lost earnings, incurred medical costs and experienced a diminished earning capacity.
The Haydens should not have allowed snow melt from the roof to freeze upon a concrete driveway, should have removed the unnatural accumulation of ice on the driveway and should have warned Purchase of the unnatural ice accumulation, according to the complaint.
Purchase is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus costs.
She will be represented by Matthew J. Marlen of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-172.
Apartment complex owners sued over tenant's slip and fall
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