Slip and fall on black ice at Memorial leads to suit against lot maintainer

A St. Clair County woman has filed suit against the plowing company that she alleges failed to clear black ice, causing her to fall and fracture her ankle.

Rhonda Mense, of St. Libory, alleges she was exiting her vehicle at the Memorial Hospital parking lot in Belleville on March 26, 2013, when she slipped and fell on black ice.

Due to her fall, Mense fractured her right ankle, incurred medical costs, experienced pain and suffering and endured disability and disfigurement, according to the complaint.

Mense names Hank's Excavating and Landscaping of Belleville as a defendant, saying it failed to properly clear the snow and ice, stacked snow in an area where it knew the snow would melt and failed to properly salt the area.

In her complaint, Mense is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Jim Mendillo of Freeark, Harvey and Mendillo in Belleville will be representing her.

The case number is St. Clair County Circuit Court case 14-L-598.