Alorton Flying J sued over man's icy slip

A man has filed suit against the gas station where he claims he slipped and fell on ice.

Dennis Hinnah claims he was visiting the Flying J Travel Center at 140 Racehorse Dr. in Alorton Dec. 16, 2010, when he slipped and fell on ice in the parking lot.

Because of his fall, Hinnah incurred medical costs; suffered great pain, discomfort, disability and mental anguish; and lost his normal life, according to the complaint filed Dec. 14 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. He also lost wages, the suit states.

In his complaint, Hinnah names CFJ Properties, Travel Plaza, Douglas Oil Company of California, Kayo Oil Company and FJ Management as defendants. They negligently failed to properly repair the premises, failed to adequately warn of the dangers on the premises, failed to warn patrons about the dangerous accumulations of ice and snow in the parking lot, allowed an unnatural accumulation of ice and snow to pile up and to remain in the parking lot for an extended period of time and conducted snow removal operations in a way that increased the likelihood of people falling, the complaint says.

In his four-count complaint, Hinnah is seeking a judgment of more than $250,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

He will be represented by Kevin T. Hoerner of Becker, Paulson, Hoerner and Thompson in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-662.