EDWARDSVILLE — A man is suing Geneve L. Wood, individually and as trustee of the Wood Trust and the Geneve Wood Trust, Wayne A. Mollet Auction Service and Wayne A. Mollet, a property owner and auctioneer, citing alleged failure to warn, negligence and insufficient measures taken to prevent injuries.
Jerry Keel filed a complaint on June 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against the defendants, alleging that they failed to keep a clean and safe environment.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Aug. 4, 2014, he was invited onto the defendants' property, and while he was walking into the barn, the defendants caused the power to be cut, causing all the lights to turn off. As a result, he stepped on the metal prongs of a garden fork, causing him to suffer injuries to his right foot and subsequent infection, resulting in multiple surgeries and amputation of his middle toe, he alleges, adding that he incurred medical expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses. The plaintiff holds the defendatns responsible because the defendants allegedly placed a garden fork on the ground with the prongs facing upwards, failed to provide adequate lighting and failed to warn invitees of the placement of the garden fork.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in his favor for an equitable amount of $50,000, together with the costs of this action. He is represented by John C. Webster of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16L802