Applebee's to get curb service in customer's injury suit

Applebee's customer Hazel Baker claims she will be disabled for the remainder of her life because she tripped over a curb in an area of the parking lot where bushes were overgrown and lighting was poor.

According to a lawsuit filed Nov. 27 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Baker parked her car in a spot designated for take-out orders on Jan. 4, 2006.

Baker claims she injured her left leg and other parts of her body at the restaurant located at 47 Ludwig Dr. in Fairview Heights while attempting to walk into the restaurant.

Represented by Grey Chatham of Swansea, Baker is seeking in excess of $300,000 in damages from Applebee's Restaurants West, Applebee's Restaurants, Inc., Applebee's International, Inc., doing business as Gourmet Systems, JS Ventures, Inc. and Lawrence Simmonds.

She claims the defendants failed to maintain the property, failed to keep the sidewalk area properly lit and reasonably landscaped and failed to warn her of the poor lighting and overgrown landscaping when they knew or should have known that such created a hazard.