Contractor sues over trip on electrical stud

In recently filed court documents, a man claims he fell over an unmarked electrical stud while he was working.

Daniel Garnett filed a lawsuit Nov. 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Guarantee Electrical Company, Bunge-SCF Grain, Alberici Constructors, Ambassador Steel Fabrication and Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Company.

In his complaint, Garnett alleges he was installing and moving rebar at a river grain terminal in Fairmont City on Dec. 1, 2011, when he tripped over the unmarked electrical stud and fell.

Because of his fall, Garnett suffered serious and permanent injuries, was prevented from attending to his usual duties and affairs and suffered great pain and anguish, according to the complaint. He also incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Garnett names Guarantee Electrical Company, Ambassador, Vee-Jay and Alberici as defendants. They controlled part of the construction site where he was working, but negligently failed to keep the work area safe, failed to maintain safe electrical studs, failed to inspect the work area to make sure it was safe, allowed electrical studs to create a dangerous condition and failed to properly maintain electrical studs, the complaint says.

Garnett names Bunge-SCF Grain as a defendant because it owned the site where the construction was happening.

In his complaint, Garnett seeks a judgment of more than $300,000, plus costs.

Kenneth B. Beljanski of Brown and Brown in Fairview Heights will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-573.