Apartment dweller sues property owner over trip up stairs

A woman alleges a climb up stairs to her apartment resulted in injuries to her neck, right shoulder, right arm, right hip, back and ribs.

Patricia Gonzalez filed a lawsuit Aug. 13 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Stonemill Properties.

Gonzalez claims she was living at apartments owned by Stonemill Properties located at 520 N. August Apt. 2A in Mascoutah.

While walking up stairs leading to her apartment on Oct. 29, Gonzalez fell after she tripped on ripped carpeting, according to the complaint.

In addition to her injuries, Gonzalez became sick, sore, lame and disordered, suffered great pain and anguish, incurred medical costs and suffered internal derangement of her injured body parts, the suit states.

She blames Stonemill Properties for failing to maintain its premises so as not to cause injury to its residents and for failing to warn her of dangerous or hazardous conditions on the premises.

Gonzalez is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Richard G. Reed and Jeanine R. Armstrong of Reed and Bruhn in Belleville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-424.