Cueto
A Belleville janitor and his wife have amended their lawsuit that seeks damages in excess of $800,000 from the parents of several students whose horseplay allegedly caused a shoulder injury.
Plaintiffs Keith and Paula Muskopf dropped eight counts of their complaint in an order signed by St. Clair County Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto March 7.
The Muskopfs also filed their second amended complaint and changed the parents of students involved in the incident from respondents in discovery to defendants.
Those actions took place the same day.
According to their complaint, Keith Muskopf worked as a janitor at Belleville West High School when he suffered an injury to his shoulder.
The injury was caused when students Ehhsan Hamden and Philsamrae Escaesenas allegedly slammed a door into Keith Muskopf's shoulder while engaging in horseplay.
The Escaesenas' parents, Rodolpho and Marites Escaesenas, are now named as defendants in the case.
Paula Muskopf claims to have lost her husband's company and he claims to have experienced pain and mental anguish.
Cueto gave the Muskopfs more time to file the amended complaint in a Feb. 8 order.
That order noted that the plaintiffs had not then taken action "for good cause," but did not further explain the circumstances of the delay.
The case had been set for trial in April but has been taken off that month's trial calendar.
Steven Katzman of Belleville represents the Muskopfs.
Michael Murphy of Belleville represents the Hamdens.
Roger Wilson of St. Louis represents the Escaesenas family.
The case is St. Clair case number 10-L-230.