A couple living in an Edwardsville house says their belongings were ruined when their landlord's employee threw them outside and poured water on them.
Ronald and Dorothy Jones filed a lawsuit Jan. 31 in Madison County Circuit Court against SIM Properties Inc. and Idrees Muhammad.
The Joneses say they rented a home owned by SIM in the 600 block of Chapman Street beginning in June 2010. According to the complaint, Muhammad, an employee of SIM, entered the house without consent in 2012 and removed all the couple's possessions, including clothes and furniture. The Joneses say Muhammad put the property outside. Muhammad allegedly placed some of the items in plastic bags and then hosed them down with water. The Joneses say this caused mold to grow inside the bags.
The Joneses accuse SIM and Muhammad of trespass and ruining the value of their property. The Joneses, individually and on behalf of other SIM tenants, accuse the company of unlawful penalty after it charged them $5 per day in late fees, an amount they say is excessive.
The Joneses ask for more than $250,000 in damages plus court fees.
They are represented by attorneys Peter J. Maag and Thomas G. Maag of Wood River and Brian Wendler of Edwardsville.
Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-161
Edwardsville couple sues landlords claiming property was thrown out and destroyed
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