Mendillo
A St. Clair County woman has filed suit against the Casino Queen, alleging she was fired after she filed a workers' compensation complaint.
Ruth Knerrer claims she was working for Casino Queen on July 29, 2009, when a patron assaulted her, causing her to sustain a knee injury.
Following the incident, Knerrer filed a workers' compensation claim, according to the complaint filed Nov. 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
On Nov. 10, 2009, as Knerrer was helping a customer resolve an issue over the use of a slot machine, others relieved her of her job duties because of a shift change, the suit states.
When Knerrer attempted to return to work for her next shift, she was suspended, then terminated, the complaint says.
"Plaintiff was discharged in retaliation for exercising her rights granted by the Workers' Compensation Act," the suit states.
As a result of her termination, Knerrer claims she lost income and benefits and suffered emotional distress.
James R. Mendillo of Freeark, Harvey and Mendillo in Belleville will be representing her.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-580.