Belleville sued by person who trips on sidewalk

Virginia Rodenmeyer of Belleville is suing the City of Belleville over injuries she sustained last year after tripping and falling on a city-maintained sidewalk.

According to a suit filed May 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Rodenmeyer was walking southbound on the east side of South 2nd Street next to the U.S. Post Office in the block between West Washington and West Lincoln Streets on June 4, 2007.

"That on or about the time and place aforesaid, plaintiff was a permitted and intended user of the defendant's aforementioned sidewalk when she tripped and fell due to an uneven and cracked portion of the sidewalk and was injured...," the complaint states.

Rodenmeyer claims the city had actual and constructive knowledge of the uneven and cracked portion of the sidewalk. She claims the city is negligent for, among other things, failing to maintain the sidewalk.

Seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages plus costs, Rodenmeyer is represented by Jeffrey A. Kopis of Belleville.