The owners of a campground claim they were attacked by a group of drunken revelers after the owners had attempted to kick them off their property.
Ervin and Cheryl Smith filed a lawsuit May 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Jacob K. Pflasterer, Kenneth L. Burgess Jr., Terrence Bailey, Suzette M. Weis and Sarah Yates.
In their complaint, the Smiths allege they attempted to kick the defendants off the grounds of the Kaskaskia River Marina and Campground after the defendants provoked other patrons and began engaging in physical and verbal arguments on May 30, 2010.
After the Smiths requested the defendants leave their property, the defendants momentarily exited, but returned and continued to engage in altercations, according to the complaint.
"Once the defendants returned, the plaintiffs approached them to instruct them to leave the business premises," the suit states. "At this time, the defendants individually and jointly physically attacked and assaulted the plaintiffs by repeatedly pushing them about the body and punching them about the head, face and body."
Due to the attack, the Smiths sustained head and face injuries, causing them to immediately be transported to New Athens Emergency Medical Services and then transported to St. Luke's West Hospital, the complaint says. In addition, during the attack, Ervin Smith claims he lost his hearing aids and other personal property.
The Smiths lost business earnings, wages and their personal property; experienced disability; lost their normal life because of the attack, according to the complaint.
In their 10-count complaint, the Smiths are seeking a judgment of more than $500,000 and other relief the court deems just.
Lloyd M. Cueto of the Law Office of Lloyd M. Cueto in Belleville will be representing them.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-273.