Forklift driven too fast, man claims in suit

A man who says he suffered permanent injuries after getting hit by a forklift has filed suit against a warehousing company.

Edward E. Burkhardt claims he was making a delivery to M.J. Resurrection Inc. also known as Fresh Warehousing in Sauget on June 17 and was arranging paperwork with an employee there when another Fresh Warehousing worker struck Burkhardt with a forklift he was operating.

As a result, Burkhardt sustained temporary and permanent injuries, incurred medical costs and has been prevented from attending to his usual duties, according to the complaint filed Sept. 30 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Fresh Warehousing employees failed to keep a proper lookout, drove the forklift too fast, failed to brake the forklift, failed to exercise proper control over the forklift and failed to keep proper sensors on the vehicle, the suit states.

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

Lanny Darr of Schrempf, Kelly, Napp and Darr in Alton will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-520.