Belleville, sanitation driver sued for injuries

A man claiming rib, back, lung and right upper extremity injuries is suing the city of Belleville and a sanitation truck driver for knocking him to the ground.

Henry Mills claims he was working out of a bucket truck along Madison Road near the entrance to the Milam Landfill in St. Clair County when a sanitation truck driver Marlon Fluker struck his bucket on Jan. 12, 2006.

Mills claims the city and Fluker are negligent for failing to keep a proper lookout for obstacles, failing to yield to the bucket, operating the sanitation truck at a speed which was greater than reasonable and for proceeding forward when the height of his truck was greater than the obstacle in his path.

Represented by Gregory L. Shevlin of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin of Belleville, and by Spencer E. Farris of Zevan, Davidson, Farris, Stewart LLC of St. Louis, Mills is seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages, plus costs.

According to the suit filed Jan. 10 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Mills sustained great pain and mental anguish, lost income and has become liable for hospital and medical treatment.