Injured woman sues Christ United Church of Christ of Belleville

A Belleville church is being sued by a woman who fell in its parking lot, injuring her right hip and buttocks, and back and shoulder.

Patty Thurston filed suit against Christ United Church of Christ of Belleville, located at 26 North 14th St., on Feb. 18 in St. Clair County  Circuit Court.

She claims the church is negligent for failing to maintain its property in a safe condition, permitting a metal protrusion from the parking lot that created a latent hazard, failing to remove latent hazards and failing to warn of defects it knew or should have known.

Thurston is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages.

She is represented by James P. Stiehl of Swansea.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-89.