Injured guest sues homeowners for failing to supervise invitees

Michael Flake of Smithton is suing Jebb and Kathleen Balch for injuries he sustained March 21 after falling down a flight of stairs at their Smithton home.

According to a complaint filed May 14 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Flake was allegedly pushed or bumped down the stairs by Terry Webb, a co-defendant who also resides in Smithton.

Flake claims he hurt his hip, left hand and ring finger. All the parts and structures thereof were "seriously bruised, contused, lacerated, cut, torn, swollen, aggravated, ruptured, mashed, wrenched, narrowed, compressed, subluxed, abraded, dislocated, strained, sprained...," the complaint states.

He also claims damage to his entire nervous system.

Flake claims the Balches failed to supervise guests at their residence "when it was reasonably foreseeable that incidents of violence and/or negligence were likley to take place, due to the age of the invitees and consumption of alcohol on their premises," the complaint states.

Represented by Robert G. Jones of Brown & Crouppen in St. Louis, Flake is seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages.