Mother claims son developed intestinal parasites in suit against ESL Housing Authority

An East St. Louis mother says a known sewage problem at a government-owned apartment complex caused her son to get sick.

Kamika Conrad, on behalf of her minor son, filed a lawsuit Feb. 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against East St. Louis Housing Authority and Darryl Luster.

Conrad says she and her son were living in the Gumpers Housing project in March 2011. Conrad claims Luster, the manager of the building, and the East St. Louis Housing Authority knew of a sewage problem that could be dangerous to Gumpers' residents.

Conrad claims her son developed intestinal parasites because of the unsolved sewage issue. She accuses the Housing Authority and its manager of negligence for allegedly knowing about the building's sewer problem but failing to take steps to correct it.

Conrad is asking for more than $200,000 in damages for medical expenses and court costs.

Attorney Joseph A. Bartholomew of Belleville is representing the Conrads.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-115