EDWARDSVILLE — Several passengers are suing the representative of the estate of a motorist whom the plaintiffs allege caused a crash that killed the defendant and injured the plaintiffs.
Nadine Thompson, Vicki Suhre, Evelyn Suhre and Jaime Mifflin, individually, and Jaime Mifflin as natural mother and next friend of minors Elizabeth and Jonathan Mifflin, filed a lawsuit Sept. 23 in Madison County Circuit Court against Denise A. Crisler, personal representative of the estate of Dean Lanphere, alleging Lanphere negligently failed to operate his vehicle with reasonable care for the safety of other persons and their property.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 5, 2014, the plaintiffs were passengers in a vehicle stopped near the intersection of State Route 143 and Enviro Way in Wood River when Lanphere caused a chain-reaction collision, including the vehicle occupied by the plaintiffs.
The collision, the suit says, caused the plaintiffs severe injuries, resulting in medical expenses, pain and suffering, disability and loss of normal life. The plaintiffs allege Lanphere operated his vehicle too closely to the vehicles ahead of him, failed to keep proper lookout and failed to keep his vehicle under control.
The plaintiffs seek trial by jury, judgment of at least $50,000 for each plaintiff and costs of suit. They are represented by attorney Justin B. Mattea of Collinsville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-1340