BELLEVILLE — A driver is suing another motorist, alleging that negligence led to a rear-end collision.
Kirk Messinger filed a complaint on May 16 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Tina Rutledge, alleging that the defendant failed to maintain proper control of her vehicle.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Nov. 20, while he was operating a motor vehicle in a southerly direction in the intersection of North Illinois Street and Rosewood Drive in Swansea, he was rear-ended by the defendant's vehicle, causing him to suffer extensive injuries to his head, body and limbs, both internally and externally. The plaintiff holds Tina Rutledge responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to timely apply brakes, failed to keep proper lookout, operated the vehicle at an excessive rate of speed and followed his vehicle more closely than was reasonable and proper.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount exceeding $50,000, plus costs of this action. He is represented by John H. Hustava of John H. Hustava PC in Collinsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16L267