A mother and son are suing a bicycle distributor after an alleged defective bicycle left the son injured.
Brandon Mealy, by his mother and next friend Tammy Allen, and Tammy Allen filed a complaint on Sept. 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Pacific Cycle Inc., alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, on June 15, 2014, Allen purchased a bicycle that had been assembled and distributed by Pacific Cycle from a Belleville Walmart near Green Mount Road.
On June 16, 2014, the complaint states, Mealy rode the bicycle for the first time, with no alterations being made to it since its purchase. Within 15 minutes, the bicycle's handlebars allegedly went forward and caused Mealy to be thrown over the handlebars onto the pavement.
The complaint states Pacific Cycle was negligent in its design of the bicycle, causing the screws to strip and the handlebars to loosen.
As a result, Mealy sustained injuries, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life, as well as incurred medical expenses.
Both plaintiffs seek judgments between $50,000 and $75,000, plus costs of the suit. They are represented by Eric Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick Law Offices PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-497