Brain injury claimed in workplace hose incident

A St. Clair County man has filed suit against the companies that he blames for manufacturing an allegedly defective hose that struck him in the head, causing brain injuries.

Keith King claims he was working for the Commonfields of Cahokia in Cahokia on Feb. 13, 2009, and was using equipment manufactured by defendants Vactor Manufacturing, Federal Signal Corporation and Peabody-Myers Corporation to clean out sewer lines.

"That at said time and place, when the water was activated, the hose and attachments flew out of the line striking plaintiff in the head, face and body, causing serious injury," the suit states.

The suit was filed Feb. 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the incident, King suffered disabling and disfiguring injuries to his head, neck, brain and body and suffered great pain and mental anguish. In addition, he incurred medical costs and has been prevented from participating in his usual employment, according to the complaint.

The defendants negligently failed to incorporate a governor or other pressure limiting device that would have regulated the water pressure, incorporated a system that allowed for the direct release of water and failed to warn King of the dangers, the complaint says.
In his three-count complaint, King is seeking a judgment of more than $150,000, plus costs.

He will be represented by Gregory L. Shevlin of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-58.