Millikan
Wright
A Madison County woman says she was knocked out by worshipers "receiving the 'spirit'" at an East St. Louis church.
Cheryl Jones filed a lawsuit Dec. 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Disciple Fellowship Christian Church.
According to the complaint, Jones was visiting the church on North 58th Street in January 2010. At some point during the service, members of the congregation allegedly rushed to form a line and "receive the 'spirit'". Jones says some of the worshippers were assisted by ushers standing by when the pastor laid hands on members of the congregation. She says the ushers were there to "catch" people who fell as they "received the 'spirit.'"
Jones says the ushers were able to assist some of the congregants but not all. She contends the pastor was alone as one woman "received the 'spirit'" and allegedly fell backward. Without ushers nearby to catch her, the woman allegedly knocked several other worshipers into Jones.
Jones claims she fell to the ground and that several people fell on top of her. She says she lost consciousness during the incident. She says she received serious injuries to her head, neck and back in the fall.
Jones accuses Disciple Fellowship Christian Church of negligence and seeks more than $50,000 in damages for medical bills along with court costs.
Attorneys Brian P. Millikan and Christopher A. Wright of St. Louis are representing Jones. They ask for a jury trial.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-702