Hospital worker sues employer after slipping on water, miscarrying

A St. Clair County woman has filed suit against Touchette Regional Hospital, alleging her unborn baby died after she slipped on water while working.

Tonya Campbell claims she was working for Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation on Sept. 6, 2008, at about 9:15 p.m. when she slipped on water on the floor and fell.

The water had been used to clean the floor and was placed there by an employee of Touchette Regional Hospital, according to the complaint filed Aug. 31 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. However, the employee failed to erect a "wet floor" sign in the area of the standing water, the suit states.

After the fall, Tonya Campbell, who was 22 weeks pregnant at the time, was hospitalized and delivered through still birth her daughter, Rileigh Nicole Campbell, the complaint says.

Because of the incident, Tonya Campbell claims she incurred medical costs of about $3,000 and incurred funeral and burial expenses of about $2,000. In addition, she has lost about $16,000 worth of income and has suffered grief, sorrow and mental suffering, according to the complaint.

Tonya Campbell is seeking actual and pecuniary damages of more than $50,000, plus punitive damages, medical expenses, costs and other relief the court deems just.

She will be represented by William T. Dowd of Dowd and Dowd in St. Louis.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-459.