Photographer sues church for slip on water

An Olan Mills photographer filed a personal injury suit against St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hamel alleging he slipped on water that was in the lobby while taking photographs on Aug. 6, 2005.

Danny Gravitt claims the church failed in its duty to maintain the church building and the area surrounding it in a reasonably safe condition so as not to negligently cause injury to people.

According to the suit filed Aug. 6 in Madison County Circuit Court, St. Paul's negligently constructed and maintained its lobby in an unsafe condition, allowed or caused water to accumulate on the lobby floor and allowed the water to remain on the floor for a long time.

Gravitt also alleges the church failed to repair leaks in the area near the water, failed to warn him of the slick and unsafe surface and allowed a slick and unsafe surface on the floor to exist when it knew or should have known that the condition was unsafe.

He claims while walking across the lobby he slipped and fell in the water which caused severe, painful and permanent injuries to his body and limbs, became liable for medical expenses and lost wages.

Represented by Doug Mendenhal of Smith, Mendenhall & Selby in Alton, Gravitt is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus costs.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Nicholas Byron.

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