Swansea woman sues apartment owners over dumpster slip

A Swansea woman says the owners of her apartment building are to blame for her breaking her ankle near the complex's trash dumpster.

Deborah McKinzie filed a lawsuit Oct. 11 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Kent Loepker, Swansea Towers LLC and LMT Estates Ltd.

McKinzie says she was taking a small bag of trash to the dumpster in October 2009 at her North First Street apartment when she allegedly slipped and fell on some grease on the walkway on the east side of the building. McKinzie contends the Swansea Towers Apartments managers knew of complaints of spilled garbage and grease in that area prior to her fall but failed to do anything to correct the potential hazard.

She accuses the apartment complex and its owners and managers of negligence for failing to clean up the area near the trash dumpster. McKinzie asks for more than $50,000 in damages for medical expenses and court fees.

Attorney Paul W. Johnson of Belleville is representing McKinzie. The ask for a jury trial.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-575