Elevation in Red Lobster parking lot caused woman to fall, suit claims

A Granite City woman has filed suit against the owners of Red Lobster, alleging she fell after tripping on an elevation in the restaurant's parking lot.

Cathy Richey claims she was visiting an Alton Red Lobster on Oct. 14, 2009, when the incident occurred.

According to the complaint filed Nov. 30 in Madison County Circuit Court, Richey sustained an injury to her knee because of the fall.

In addition, she incurred medical costs, experienced great pain and mental anguish and has been unable to attend to her normal activities, the suit states.

GMRI, doing business as Red Lobster, negligently caused an elevation to exist in its parking lot where patrons would be walking, failed to construct the parking lot so that an elevation would not be present and failed to warn patrons of the elevation, the complaint says.

In her two-count complaint, Richey is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

Keith Short and Noel L. Smith Jr. of Hazlett and Short in Shiloh will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-1202.