Metro passenger injured by abrupt halt, suit claims

A man has filed suit against the company whose vehicle in which he was riding, alleging the driver of the vehicle abruptly came to a halt.

Patrick Davis filed a lawsuit Oct. 28 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Bi-State Development Agency doing business as Metro.

Davis claims he was riding in a Metro vehicle on Nov. 7, 2008, on Route 3 in St. Clair County when the driver of the vehicle abruptly stopped, causing Davis to be thrown from a broken seat on the vehicle.

Because of the incident, Davis suffered injuries to his left wrist, left hip, back, trunk, spinal column, vertebrae, intervertebral discs and all limbs of his body, according to the complaint. In addition, Davis has suffered headaches, damage to his nervous system, great physical pain and mental anguish, the suit states.

Davis' ability to work has been impaired, he has incurred medical costs of $8,616 and he has lost time from school, causing him to withdraw from several courses, the complaint says.

Davis blames Bi-State Development Agency for driving a vehicle too fast, for failing to keep a lookout ahead, for failing to stop to avoid injury to Davis, for failing to give any warning of its sudden stop, for failing to notice that the seat in which Davis was sitting was in a position where he was in imminent peril of being injured, for failing to keep the seated patrons safe, for failing to properly secure the seat to the bus and for failing to warn Davis of the unsafe condition.

Davis is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000 but less than $74,900, plus costs.

He will be represented by Lynn A. Fischer of The Fischer Law Firm in Clayton.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-581.