Belleville arcade removes icy slip and fall case to federal court

A Belleville arcade has removed to federal court a case alleging one of its customers slipped and fell on ice.

The Arcades Centre removed the case to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on Feb. 17 through attorneys James A. Wilke and Steven J. McMahon of St. Louis.

The defendant argued removal was proper because diversity of citizenship exists and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.

According to the Jan. 15 lawsuit, Tiffany Hendricks was walking around The Arcades Center building at 6600 W. Main St. in Belleville on Dec. 16, 2013, when she slipped on ice that had accumulated near the sidewalk from a downspout.

As a result of her fall, Hendricks claims she suffered great physical pain and mental anguish and incurred medical costs.

The plaintiff blames The Arcades Centre for causing her fall, negligently allowing a downspout to discharge water on the sidewalk, failing to warn employees of the dangerous condition and failing to fix or replace the downspout.

Hendricks seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

She is represented by David H. Bone of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-21