Tenant claims landlord responsible for dilapidated steps

A Granite City apartment dweller who broke his foot filed suit against his landlords in Madison County Circuit Court Dec. 8, seeking damages in excess of $50,000.

Randy Allen claims Richard and Jeanne Carter owned the property located at 2043 Benton, Apt. 19, where he was allegedly injured on Aug. 15.

According to Allen, a step on a common stairway gave way, breaking his foot and causing him to fall which caused injuries both internally and externally.

Allen claims the staircase was in a dilapidated and unreasonably dangerous condition.

"The unreasonably dangerous condition of the common steps leading to Apartment 19 could have been discovered had the defendants exercised reasonable care," the complaint states.

Allen claims the Carters failed to repair the stairway, disregarded complaints made about the stairway, failed to discover the dilapidated stairway and utilized maintenance personnel who were neither competent nor qualified to repair the steps.

Allen claims he has suffered a disability, great pain and mental anguish, medical expenses and loss of wages.

He is represented by J. Phillip Steinman of the Callis Firm in Granite City.

The case has been assigned to Madison County Circuit Judge Dan Stack.

06 L 1103