Woman sues after stepping in hole at orchard

A St. Clair County woman is suing a Millstadt self-pick orchard after she allegedly stepped in a hole on the property.

Nicole Haas filed a lawsuit Aug. 1 against Eckert Orchards Inc. in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Eckert Orchards has a produce store in Millstadt but, according to the lawsuit, encourages customers to go into the fields and pick fruit themselves. Haas claims the owners of the orchard failed to warn people there may be some holes that are difficult to see while walking through the trees.

Haas says she was looking for fruit in the orchard in October 2011 when she stepped in one of those indiscernible holes and was hurt. She accuses the orchard of negligence and asks for more than $50,000 in damages for medical treatment, lost wages and court costs. Haas is represented by attorney Kevin Boyne of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-401