Worker seeks $50k in damages over crushed hand

A man has filed suit against a Caseyville company, alleging his hand was crushed while he was attempting to help release a truck from mud.

Jason Berry claims he was working at the Metropolitan Sanitary District Landfill off Riverview Boulevard in St. Louis for St. Louis Compositing Trucking on Oct. 7.

As Berry was performing his work duties, the truck he was operating became stuck in soft ground, according to the complaint filed Aug. 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Employees with defendant Grantham Logistics attempted to use a bulldozer to pull the truck from the area.

"As Plaintiff was attempting to hook the chain from the bulldozer to the truck he was operating, the operator of the bulldozer suddenly, and without warning, operated the bulldozer so as to pull the chain tight, crushing Plaintiff's left hand," the suit states.

Because of the incident, Berry suffered great pain and mental anguish, lost income, incurred medical expenses and suffered disability, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life, the complaint says.

He blames Grantham Logistics because its employees failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to make sure the chain was securely hooked before attempting to move the bulldozer, failed to warn Berry that the bulldozer was being operated in such a way that the chain would be tightened and failed to ensure Berry's hands were free from the chain before moving the bulldozer.

Berry is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

He will be represented by Terry N. Brown of Brown and Associates in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-441.