Christway Church in Godfrey sued by woman injured after services

A woman has filed suit against a church that she claims failed to properly remove snow and ice from its premises.

Carol Carpenter claims her son was escorting her from church following Sunday services at defendant Christway Church and First Baptist Church of Godfrey when they slipped on ice that was hidden beneath a layer of snow.

Because of the incident, which occurred on Dec. 27, 2009, Carpenter sustained severe and permanent injuries to her left ankle and left shoulder, requiring a total of three surgeries, according to the complaint filed Dec. 30 in Madison County Circuit Court. In addition, she suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, incurred medical costs, was unable to perform her normal activities and endured disability and loss of a normal life, the suit states.

Christway Church and First Baptist Church of Godfrey negligently designed its parking lot, failed to use proper drainage for its parking lot, failed to remove snow and ice from its parking lot, failed to place salt in areas of unnatural accumulation and removed snow in such a way that it would accumulate unnaturally in areas of the parking lot and freeze, the complaint says.

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

She will be represented by Michael P. Glisson of Williamson, Webster, Falb and Glisson in Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-1290.