A former student at Dupo Grade School has sued the school district, alleging she has permanent scarring from a fall nearly 10 years ago.
Kristie Keys claims that on Jan. 14, 1999, while she was a student at Dupo Grade School she fell on snow and ice leading up to the school's only accessible entrance.
The school attempted to remove the ice, and Keys slipped on the snow and ice the school had tried to remove, according to the complaint filed Sept. 12 in St. Clair Circuit Court.
Because of the fall, Keys received injuries to her head, some of which have left permanent scars, to her neck and to the soft tissues of the cervical, shoulder and lumbar areas, the suit states.
Keys also claims she was responsible for medical costs and was made sick, sore, lame, disordered and disabled.
She has experienced pain and suffering, a disability and impairment of future earnings, according to the complaint.
Dupo Community Unit School District #196 was negligent because it removed the ice and snow and applied a substance to the sidewalk, "thereby adding to the already dangerous situation" and "creating the dangerous condition;" by allowing the ice and snow to remain on the sidewalk in an unnatural state; by failing to warn Keys of the dangerous conditions; and by failing to provide assistance to her after she fell, the suit states.
Keys is seeking a judgment in excess of $50,000, plus costs of the suit.
Patrick R. Foley of Williams, Caponi, Foley & Eckert are representing her.