Wet mat injures YTB worker; suit filed against Cintas

A woman has filed suit against Cintas Corporate Services, Inc., alleging she was injured after she fell on a wet mat the company's employees placed on the floor.

Deborah Maple claims she was working for YTB in Wood River on May 1, 2008, when she entered the building and slipped on a wet mat Cintas employees laid on the floor.

"After the accident, CINTAS, by and through their agents, officers, and/or employees, admitted that the mat – and each mat was placed at YTB on the date of the accident – was wet due to condensation from the humidity in CINTAS's delivery trucks," the suit filed Sept. 18 in Madison County Circuit Court states.

Before the incident, YTB had entered into an agreement with Cintas to provide certain services, including inspecting, delivering and cleaning of floor mats, according to the complaint.

Because of her fall, Maple suffered severe and permanent injuries to her back and neck, experienced great pain and suffering and incurred medical costs, the suit states. In addition, she lost large sums of money she otherwise would have earned from her normal occupation, the complaint states.

Maple blames Cintas for supplying a wet floor mat, for failing to inspect the floor mat and for failing to warn of the wet floor mat.

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

Matthew R. Chapman of Becker, Schroader and Chapman in Granite City will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-994.