St. Clair County and driver sued in U-turn accident

A man claims he sustained injuries to his neck and back after a driver working for St. Clair County attempted to make a U-turn, but struck him instead.

Douglas Ault filed a lawsuit Dec. 7 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Daniel E. Stockett and St. Clair County.

Ault claims he was driving south on Green Mount Road in Shiloh on Dec. 27 when Stockett, who was also driving south, collided with him.

Because of the accident, Ault experienced a shock to his nervous system; became sick, sore and disordered; incurred medical costs; and lost large sums of money because of his inability to earn money, according to the complaint. In addition, Ault's future earning capacity has been impaired; he incurred property damage; and he lost the use of his car, the suit states.

Ault blames Stockett for driving in such a way that he caused Ault injury, for failing to maintain a proper lookout for other vehicles, for driving too fast, for driving without adequate brakes, for failing to apply his brakes, for failing to keep his vehicle under proper control, for failing to stop or swerve his vehicle in time to avoid a collision and for failing to yield the right-of-way. In addition, Stockett made a u-turn in an unsafe manner, the complaint says.

In the two-count suit, Ault seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Chris Kolker of Kolker Law Offices in Belleville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-645.