Granite City District 9 sued over worker's fall through hole

A man names the Granite City School District as a defendant in a recently filed complaint after he claims he fell through an unprotected hole while helping to construct a Granite City building.

Blake Wallen filed a lawsuit May 16 in Madison County Circuit Court against Granite City School District No. 9.

In his complaint, Wallen claims he helped to construct a new building in Granite City as part of a school project for the Granite City School District when the accident occurred on Oct. 7 at about 2:15 p.m.

"Granite City School District #9, by and through its agents, servants and employees, negligently cut out the stairway exit to the basement and left it in an unprotected and open; that the plaintiff fell through the unprotected hole causing injury to himself," the suit states.

Because of his fall, Wallen became sick, sore, lame, disordered and disabled and sustained disability, the complaint says. In addition, Wallen claims he experienced pain and suffering and incurred medical costs.

Wallen blames Granite City School District No. 9 for causing his fall, saying it negligently cut out the stairwell and failed to protect it, negligently failed to install a guardrail, failed to warn of a dangerous condition and failed to supervise its students.

In its two-count complaint, Wallen seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs.

John H. Hustava of Collinsville will be representing him.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-463.