Fairview Heights and officer sued by woman over collision

The mother of an 11-year-old boy claims a Fairview Heights police officer collided with her car as she was transporting her son.

Susan Cooper, mother of Bradley Cooper, filed a lawsuit Sept. 28 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Fairview Heights police officer Neal Rohlfing and the city of Fairview Heights.

Susan Cooper claims she was driving west on Frank Scott Parkway near its intersection with Sullivan Drive in St. Clair County on Oct. 5, 2008, when the collision occurred. At the time of the collision, her son, who was 10, was riding as a passenger in the vehicle.

Because of the accident, Susan and Bradley Cooper suffered severe and permanent injuries to their necks, spines and bodies, according to the complaint. Both also were hindered from attending to their usual duties, suffered great pain and mental anguish and incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Susan Cooper blames Rohlfing for failing to yield to traffic already within the intersection, for failing to see her vehicle, for failing to decrease his speed to avoid a collision, for driving too fast and for failing to decrease his speed when approaching an intersection.

In the four-count suit, Cooper is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

David R. Jones of the Law Office of David R. Jones in Edwardsville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-515.