MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Metro has claimed immunity in a passenger’s lawsuit alleging she hit her back when the bus crashed into a car in Fairview Heights.

Tammy Williams-Jackson filed the lawsuit on Oct. 10 against The Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District, doing business as Metro. She also named Darryl Randall and Martha Dixon as defendants.

According to her complaint, Williams-Jackson claims she was riding on a bus driven by Randall in October 2013 while heading west on Market Place. Randall allegedly tried to turn right onto Highway 159 at the same time as Dixon was turning her car right onto the highway. Williams-Jackson claims the bus and the car collided, causing her to hit her back on a metal window frame.

Metro answered the complaint on Nov. 14 denying the allegations against it and argues that it is protected by the Local Tort and Governmental Immunity Act.

It also claims that any alleged injuries were “the direct and proximate result of the acts or omissions of others for whom this defendant has no control.”

Dixon answered the complaint on Dec. 12, also denying the allegations against her.

The plaintiff responded to the affirmative defenses on Nov. 24, denying each and every allegation.

Williams-Jackson accuses Metro, the bus driver and the car driver of negligence. She seeks more than $100,000 in damages for medical expenses, lost wages and court costs.

The case was sent to Chief Judge John Baricevic for reassignment on Jan. 8.

The plaintiff is represented by Mary M. Stewart of Brunton Law Offices, P.C., in Collinsville.

Williams-Jackson is represented by Michael J. Brunton and Mary M. Steward of Collinsville.

Defendants Bi-State Development Agency and Darryl Randall are represented by Beth Kamp Veath of Brown & James in Belleville. They demand a jury trial.

Dixon is represented by Mark R. Osland of the Law Office of Stephen H. Larson in St. Louis. She demands a jury trial.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-687