Woman trips on leaves while picking up grandchild, suit claims

A woman claims she was injured after she tripped over an accumulation of wet leaves while picking up her grandchild from an Alton day care.

Susan Crawford filed suit against Alton Community Unit School District No. 11 and Alton Day Care on March 26 in Madison County Circuit Court.

She says she was picking up her grandchild from day care on March 31, 2008, at about 4:30 p.m. and was exiting the building when she tripped over an uneven surface.

Because of the incident, Crawford received neck, back, right shoulder, elbow and right hip injuries and experienced pain, according to the complaint.

She also incurred medical bills and lost sums of money she would have been otherwise able to obtain, the suit states.

Both Alton Community Unit School District No. 11 and Alton Day Care were at fault because they failed to provide a safe exit from the building that was free of foreign substances, failed to maintain the cleanliness of the building's exit and failed to inspect the premises, the complaint says.

In the two-count suit, Crawford is seeking a judgment in excess of $100,000, plus costs.

Samuel A. Mormino Jr. of Mormino, Velloff, Edmonds and Snider in Alton will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-313.