West County J.C. Penney store sued in St. Clair County over customer's trip

A J.C. Penney store in a west St. Louis suburb is being sued after one of its customers allegedly slipped on a wet walkway in the store.

Carolyn Kelly filed a lawsuit Nov. 14 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against J.C. Penney Corporation Inc. and Diversified Maintenance Systems LLC.

According to the complaint, Kelly was shopping in the J.C. Penney located at the West County Center in Des Peres earlier this year. She says she was walking on a concrete floor inside the store when she slipped on water condensation that had collected. Kelly claims the condensation came from a broken humidifier near the walkway. .

Kelly accuses J.C. Penney and its custodial service provider, Diversified Maintenance Systems, of negligence for allegedly failing to maintain a safe area for shoppers. Kelly asks for more than $100,000 in damages and court fees.

She is represented by attorney Peter J. Maag of Wood River.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-612