Trenton House restaurant and owner sued over patron's alleged intoxication

A woman has filed suit against the bar where an allegedly intoxicated driver purchased the beverages that caused her to collide head-on with the woman.

Shanon Lautner claims she was driving east on U.S. Route 50 in St. Clair County on May 29, 2011, when defendant Stephanie Ratajczyk, who was driving west on the same road, crossed the center line and collided with Lautner's vehicle.

Before the collision, Ratajczyk allegedly became intoxicated at defendant Trenton House, which was owned by defendant Dwight Rutz, according to the complaint filed April 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Because of the collision, Lautner and her four minor children, who were riding with her at the time of the collision, were made sick, sore, lame and disordered and experienced pain and suffering, the suit states. They also incurred medical costs, lost their earning capacities, lost wages and suffered disability and disfigurement, the complaint says.

In her four-count complaint, Lautner is seeking a judgment of more than $200,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

She will be represented by Marc W. Parker of Parker Law in Maryville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-212.