EDWARDSVILLE – A Montgomery County shopper is suing the Lichtfield Rural King, alleging negligence for allowing icy conditions to build up in the parking lot where she allegedly fell.
Payton Reeves of Montgomery County filed the lawsuit Feb. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court against Rural King Distribution & Management Inc., G&L Services & Son, ABC Property Management and ABC Snow Removal.
According to the complaint, on March 3, 2014, Reeves drove to Rural King's Litchfield store, located at 1324 W. Hudson Drive, to purchase some items. Although there were no natural accumulations of snow or ice on the parking lot, according to the suit, the defendants applied salt to the lot.
The suit says the plaintiff parked in a portion of the lot that was not well lighted and when she exited her car, she slipped and fell on ice.
The lawsuit says her injuries included a fractured ankle and fibula, contusions, hematoma, sprain, ankle surgery, pain and suffering, lost wages and potential future treatment and care.
The suit says the defendants' negligence includes improperly removing snow and ice from the parking lot, creating unnatural conditions in the lot, aggravating an unnatural accumulation of snow and ice, failing to properly salt the lot, failing to properly warn the plaintiff of hazards, failing to provide proper lighting, failing to supervise the snow removal entities, and failing to hire a qualified snow removal company or individual.
Reeves seeks a trial by jury, as well as a judgment against each defendant in an amount determined by the jury of more than $50,000 and any further relief the court deems appropriate. She is represented by attorney J.C. Pleban of Pleban & Petruska Law LLC in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-268