Student seeks $50k after slipping at Lewis and Clark

A woman claims she sustained serious and permanent injuries after falling on a slippery hillside at Lewis and Clark Community College.

Teresa A. Caldwell filed a lawsuit Aug. 30 in Madison County Circuit Court against the Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 536 of Madison, Macoupin, Jersey, Greene and Calhoun Counties and the state of Illinois.

Caldwell claims she was walking to her car after class at Lewis and Clark on Sept. 21, 2009, when the incident occurred.

On her journey back to her vehicle, Caldwell had to follow a temporary path built on a grassy slope between the LCCC parking lot and the main campus, according to the complaint.

"During rainy weather the temporary walkway became muddy and slippery," the suit states. "Upon finishing class and while walking back in the dark to her car on the temporary walkway, Plaintiff slipped on mud, lost her balance, tripped over a raised metal landscaping barrier and rocks, and fell to the ground."

In addition to her injuries, Caldwell experienced pain, suffering and disability and incurred medical costs, the complaint says. She also claims she lost income.

Caldwell blames the board for failing to maintain LCCC's walkway in a safe condition, for directing its students to walk on a slippery and muddy surface, for failing to protect against a raised metal landscaping barrier and for failing to provide adequate lighting for the temporary walkway.

In her complaint, Caldwell seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Timothy F. Caldwell of Campbell and McGrady in Godfrey will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-901.