Tenant alleges injuries from collapsed support beam

A St. Clair County tenant alleges a support beam in his apartment collapsed after he notified management, who failed to address the cracked beam.

Jerry U. Bell Jr. filed a lawsuit on March 18 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Freedom Manager LLC of Illinois, Mieka Corporation of Texas and Toronomon Kikaku Godokaisha, alleging negligence.

Bell and his family leased apartment 232-L in a building owned and managed by the defendants at 232 Freedom Drive in Belleville on or about Sept. 6, 2011. According to the complaint, the plaintiff became aware of a crack in the ceiling beam between his apartment’s living and dining rooms in early April 2013. His wife reported it to management and maintenance on or about April 10.

The plaintiff claims management repaired a broken window in the apartment that same day but did not address the cracked beam. Following the window repair, the living room ceiling collapsed, injuring Bell, the suit states.

Bell accuses the defendants of failing to inspect, discover and repair the defect, both prior to and following notification.

Bell seeks damages in excess of $50,000 for medical expenses, attorneys’ fees, and costs. He is represented in the case by Charles W. Courtney Jr. of Courtney, Clark & Mejias in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number  15-L-159