Swansea property owner faces suit over woman's parking lot fall

A woman has filed suit against the owner of a Swansea property where she claims ice accumulated in large cracks and caused her to fall.

Joanne Richter-Hill filed suit June 4 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against James Engeman.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff was walking in the parking lot of the premises at 7 Emerald Terrace in Swansea on Jan. 22, when she fell on ice that had accumulated in cracks.

Richter-Hill blames defendant Engeman, who owned the premises, for causing her fall, saying he failed to provide a safe entrance and exit, allowed large cracks to form and collect ice, failed to repair the cracks and not provide any type of warning concerning the unsafe condition of the parking lot.

Richter-Hill is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000 and is being represented by Grey Chatham Jr. of Chatham & Baricevic in Swansea.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-472