Bike rider seeks $400k after encountering 'rock-like excavation' on Madison County trail

A woman claims she broke her collarbone while riding her bike when she encountered an unexpected dip in the land.

Susan Thompson-Mank filed a lawsuit July 19 in Madison County Circuit Court against Madison County Mass Transit District, the Agency for Community Transit, Madison County and the city of Troy.

In her complaint, Thompson-Mank alleges she was attempting to ride her bicycle from the Madison County Transit Goshen Trail in Troy to the bicycle trail near State Route 162 in Troy on Aug. 11, 2012, when she encountered a large depression “consisting of a chat and rock-like excavation.” She struck the depression and fell from her bike, fracturing her right clavicle in the process, according to the complaint.

In addition to her fractured collarbone, Thompson-Mank sustained right shoulder, right arm and right hand injuries; experienced pain and suffering; endured mental anguish and disfigurement; incurred medical bills; and lost wages and her enjoyment of life because of the incident, the suit states.

She blames the defendants for causing her injuries, saying they failed to warn her of the depression, allowed the depression to exist on adjacent property and failed to repair the depression, the complaint says.

In her lawsuit, Thompson-Mank seeks a judgment of more than $400,000, plus costs.

John P. Cunningham of Brown and James in Belleville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-1191.