Man in wheelchair sues restaurant and Metro for walkway accident

A restaurant located at the St. Louis Downtown Airport is being sued, along with Metro (formerly Bi-State Development Agency), by a person who was thrown from his wheelchair on a walkway/ramp.

Kelly Treece filed suit in St. Clair County Circuit Court on Dec. 6 claiming he sustained permanent injuries to his face, mouth, teeth and left wrist and arm from an incident that happened Nov. 29, 2006, outside Oliver's Restaurant.

Treece, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, claims he was thrown after his wheelchair unexpectedly dropped off the walkway/ramp and onto the street/parking lot. He claims that due to his injuries he has not been able to work out on a regular basis which has caused a "permanent deterioration of his muscular dystrophy."

He also claims he has become less mobile and less independent.

The airport and Metro are named as defendants because they controlled the walkway/ramp that provided access to and from Oliver's. Judy Sauget, who operates the restaurant, is a named defendant.

Represented by Kenneth P. Danzinger of Callis, Papa, Hale, Szewczyk & Danzinger of Granite City, Treece is seeking in excess $100,000 in damages.