Stabbing at ESL tavern is subject of $1 million suit

Five Granite City residents have filed suit against the owner of a tavern where they claim they were attacked and stabbed by unspecified patrons.

Luis Hernandez, Raudel Hernandez and Cesar Flores claim they were visiting defendant Perez Cantina, an East St. Louis bar owned by defendant Linda D. Wilson-Ochoa, on Aug. 8, 2010, when they were attacked and stabbed by patrons.

Because of the attack, Luis Hernandez, Raudel Hernandez and Flores sustained severe, disabling injuries and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint filed Jan. 13 in Madison County Circuit Court. They also incurred medical costs, lost wages and suffered extreme pain, disfigurement and anguish, the suit states.

Plaintiff Maria Hernandez, who was married to Luis Hernandez, and plaintiff Urzula Hernandez, who was married to Raudel Hernandez, claim they lost their husbands' society, companionship, love, affection, support and services because of the incident.

Wilson-Ochoa, as owner of Perez Cantina, negligently failed to protect against misconduct, improperly managed the premises, failed to provide adequate staff to remove violent patrons, failed to properly monitor the volume of people at the bar and allowed hostile patrons to enter the bar, among other negligent acts, the complaint says.

In their 20-count complaint, the defendants seek a judgment of more than $1 million, plus costs.

Sarah D. Smith of Ezra and Associates in Collinsville will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-58.