A St. Clair County woman is suing an ex-boyfriend she says hid in a womens' bathroom and then attacked her as she exited a stall.
Janice Michelle Carroll filed a lawsuit Sept. 20 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Melvin Diggs.
Carroll says she and Diggs were involved in a "long term relationship" that ended prior to an alleged physical altercation between the two in September 2011. According to the complaint, on Sept. 28, 2011, Carroll and a female friend visited Pop's Saloon and Music in Sauget.
Carroll says she realized after entering the bar that Diggs was also there.
Carroll says she and her friend entered the ladies' restroom at Pop's Saloon. She claims Diggs also secretly entered the restroom and "hid in the next stall waiting" for his unsuspecting ex-girlfriend to exit. As she walked out of the stall, Carroll says Diggs called her a "bitch" and hit her in the face, allegedly causing Carroll to lose consciousness.
Carroll accuses Diggs of assault and battery. She contends the defendant's alleged attack on her caused her to suffer severe injuries, extreme mental anguish, physical pain and permanent disability. Carroll says she has been forced to undergo expensive medical care as a result of the alleged altercation. She is asking to be awarded actual damages to compensate for medical expenses and lost earnings.
Carroll contends Diggs acted "with malice, fraud, and oppression, and in willful and conscious disregard of the rights and safety of the Plaintiff" and is asking to be awarded an undetermined amount in punitive damages.
Attorneys Nathan H. Goldberg and Thomas Harvey of St. Louis are representing her.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-497