Owners of Swansea apartment complex sued over slippery steps

A woman is suing the owners of a Swansea apartment building after she allegedly slipped on a set of stairs.

Susan K. Russell filed the lawsuit against William and Kathy Schaefer Sept. 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

In the complaint, Russell claims she was visiting one of the tenants of the apartment building in June 2009. As she was walking down the stairs, Russell says, she slipped on moss that had accumulated on the wooden step. Russell allegedly fell, hurting her back.

Russell is suing the owners of the apartment complex for negligence, saying the steps should have been made of a non-slip material and cleared of moss. She is asking for more than $50,000 as compensation for injuries, lost wages and court costs.

Daniel J. Hayes, of Belleville, is the attorney representing Russell.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 10-L-497