Cahokia school district sued by worker who fell through roof

A Belleville man claims he sustained severe injuries to his back, right pelvis and left hip following a fall from the top of a school roof.

Rhett Owen claims he was working on the top of a Cahokia School District roof at 800 Range Lane in Cahokia on July 22, 2010, when he fell through the roof, striking his body on machinery as he fell and eventually landing on the school's floor.

In addition to his injuries, Owen experienced great physical pain, suffering and emotional distress and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint filed June 20 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. He also suffered disability, lost his normal life and lost wages, the suit states.

Cahokia School District negligently allowed its roof to exist in an unsafe condition, failed to maintain its roof, failed to provide Owen with a safe place to work, failed to reasonably inspect its property, failed to warn Owen of the condition and failed to barricade the unsafe section of the roof, the complaint says.

In his complaint, Owen is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

John H. Frederick Jr. of Spector, Wolfe and McLaughlin in Kirkwood will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-290.