Black ice slip and fall in Godfrey leads to suit

A woman has filed suit against the apartment complex where she alleges she fell on black ice.

According to the complaint filed Jan. 30 in Madison County Circuit Court, Pamela Cagle had parked her vehicle at defendant Surrey Court Apartments at D'Adrian Meadows in Godfrey, but was unable to access the sidewalk in front of her car due to a pile of ice and snow.

"Due to this blocked entry, Cagle had to go back toward the rear of her vehicle in an attempt to traverse across the parking lot behind the parked cars to attempt entry onto the sidewalk at a distant clean entry point," the suit states. "While crossing the parking lot, plaintiff slipped on 'black ice' [or ice not visibly noticeable to her], that was created and/or left on the pavement due to a combination of improper shoveling and/or plowing, and/or improper or inadequate chemical treatment of the parking lot areas."

Because of her fall, Cagle incurred medical costs and lost wages, says the complaint, which also names Robot Arms as a defendant.

Cagle blames the apartment complex for causing her fall, saying it negligently failed to maintain the parking lot, failed to adequately remove snow and ice, failed to adequately illuminate the parking lot, failed to provide a safe entrance and exit and failed to adequately salt the parking lot, among other negligent acts.

Cagle seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs. She is represented by attorney Shawn Lintz of The Lintz Law Firm in Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-114.