Crooked sidewalk blamed in suit against Maryville

A woman has filed suit against the village of Maryville, alleging she broke her hand after she tripped on a crooked sidewalk.

Margaret Heise filed a lawsuit July 3 in Madison County Circuit Court against the village of Maryville.

In her complaint, Heise claims she was walking on a sidewalk near Casey’s General Store, which is located just south of the intersection of Illinois Route 159 and Main Street, on Sept. 30 when she tripped on a depressed section of the path.

In addition to her fractured left hand, Heise incurred medical costs, lost wages, experienced pain and suffering and endured disfigurement because of the incident, the suit states. She also lost her well-being, experienced missed opportunities and suffered from a diminished quality of life, the complaint says.

Heise blames Maryville for causing her injuries, saying it negligently failed to warn individuals of a hazard in the sidewalk and created an imminent danger by building a sidewalk with a tripping hazard.

Heise is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

David C. Nelson and Nathan C. Lanter of Nelson and Nelson in Belleville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-1130.