While sitting in the overcrowded waiting room of a doctor's office, a woman sustained head, neck and back injuries when a filing cabinet fell on top of her, according to recently filed court documents.
Serena Jeffers filed a lawsuit Feb. 25 in Madison County Circuit Court against Viwathna Bhuthimethee.
In her complaint, Jeffers claims she sat on the floor of Bhuthimethee's overcrowded waiting room while waiting to see the doctor when a heavy file cabinet fell on her.
Because of the incident, Jeffers sustained great pain and suffering and incurred medical costs in addition to her injuries, according to the complaint.
Jeffers blames Bhuthimethee for causing her injuries, saying the doctor negligently failed to secure the filing cabinet, overloaded the file cabinet, failed to perform a timely inspection and failed to warn Jeffers that the filing cabinet would fall on her. The doctor also negligently failed to warn Jeffers not to sit near the filing cabinet, the suit states.
In her complaint, Jeffers seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs.
Eric M. Rhein of Belleville will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-187.
Woman injured by file cabinet in waiting room sues doctor
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY