$1.1 million sought in O'Fallon accident; Plaintiffs name driver's employer as co-defendant

A man has filed suit against the driver who he claims failed to stop at a stop sign, causing a collision.

Nickolas Gilomen I claims he was driving east on Illinois Highway 50 on March 9 when defendant Jermaine Boyd, who was driving north on Huey Road at its intersection with Illinois Highway 50, disobeyed a stop sign and struck Nickolas Gilomen I’s vehicle. At the time of the collision, Nickolas Gilomen I’s wife, Rebecca Gilomen, and son, Nickolas Gilomen II, were riding in the vehicle with him. In addition, Rebecca Gilomen’s daughter, Isabelle Knapp, was a passenger.

Because of the collision, Nickolas Gilomen I and his family suffered severe and permanent injuries, endured a great deal of pain and emotional suffering and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint filed Aug. 22 in Madison County Circuit Court. They also lost their normal lives and lost wages, the suit states.

The plaintiffs blame Boyd for causing the collision, saying he negligently failed to stop at a stop sign, failed to keep his vehicle under proper control, failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to obey a traffic control device and drove too fast.

In addition to Boyd, the plaintiffs name his employer, GRL Contracting, and its owner, Gary Layton Jr., as defendants, saying they are liable because Boyd was working for them at the time of the collision.

In their complaint, the plaintiffs are seeking a judgment of more than $1.15 million, plus costs.

Eric Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick Law Offices in Belleville will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-1412.