MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

A Cahokia man allegedly shot during a robbery is suing the owners of the liquor store where it happened.

Napolean Williams and Brenda Renay Young Williams filed the lawsuit June 15 in St. Clair County Circuit against Rajiv K. Shah, Kaushik B. Bhatt, Ghamshyam Mehta and Miskesh Shan. The defendants owned and operated the Best Stop Groceries and Liquor on Camp Jaxon Road in Cahokia, according to the complaint.

Williams says he was shopping at the Best Stop at about 6:30 p.m. on June 17, 2010. During an alleged robbery of the store, Williams says he was shot. He says the bullet traveled through his hip causing serious physical damage and "great mental torment, anquish and grief."

Williams contends the defendants were negliegent for allegedly failing to maintain the store in a reasonably safe condition. He says the owners of the Best Stop new of prior incidents of violence at the liquor store yet failed to implement sufficient security measures to avoid the shooting. He is asking Shah, Bhatt, Mehta and Shan to pay more than $100,000 in damages for medical expenses, disability, loss of income, pain and suffering.

Williams wife, Brenda Renay Young Williams, is suing for loss of consortium. She contends the defendants' negligence allowed her husband to be shot. As a result of his injuries, she says she has and will continue to suffer a loss of society, affection, assistance and conjugal fellowship." She is asking to be awarded more than $100,000 in damages plus court costs.

Attorney Eric. M. Rhein of Belleville is representing the Williamses.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-324