The Smokehouse Bar in Pierron responded to a lawsuit against it after a Greenville woman was allegedly assaulted in the bar by a Pierron woman.
According to the complaint filed in December in Madison County Circuit Court, plaintiff Sheila Mae Carter claims she was at the bar on Feb. 22, 2012, at 11:33 p.m., when defendant Mary Murphy allegedly struck her and forced her to the ground and then “violently and physically beat and kicked her.”
Murphy also is a defendant.
County Line Smokehouse, doing business as Smokehouse Bar, filed a motion to dismiss Feb. 4.
It claims a landowner has no duty to protect third parties from criminal acts that occur on its premises. A duty may arise only if the landowner should have foreseen or expected the criminal act would occur.
County Line Smokehouse also stated Illinois is a fact-pleading state. According to state law, a pleader must set forth “substantial allegations of fact necessary to state any cause of action.”
Carter seeks in excess of $50,000.
Carter is represented by the law firm of Hassakis & Hassakis in Mt. Vernon.
John P. Cunningham and Daniel G. Hasenstab of Brown & James represent County Line Smokehouse.
The case is assigned to Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth.
Madison County case number 12-L-2044.
Landowner not responsible for third-party 'criminal acts'; Smokehouse Bar answers personal injury suit
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