Huck's ordered to pay plaintiff $49k

Madison County Associate Judge Ralph Mendelsohn entered judgment against BP Amoco, also known as Huck's Convenience Store, for $49,393.28 after the Granite City convenience store failed to answer a personal injury complaint.

According to the Oct. 20, order, a default judgment was entered on Oct. 9. Summons was properly served upon Huck's on Sept. 8.

Ronald Rea filed the suit Sept. 2, alleging he sustained injuries after tripping over a merchandise display.

Rea claimed the base of the display protruded out beyond that of the display and was not readily visible to the eye causing a tripping hazard for persons entering the bathroom.

Huck's is located at 4086 Pontoon Road in Granite City.

Rea alleged BP was guilty of negligence by failing to provide a safe area for business invitees to conduct business in its retail establishment.

He also claimed BP negligently failed to warn, by erecting signs, customers entering its store of the protrusion of the base of the merchandise display, failed to place barricades to prevent customers from tripping and failed to remove the protrusion of the base of the merchandise display.

Rea is represented by Eddie Unsell of East Alton.