BELLEVILLE — A man is suing the owner of a motorcycle he was riding after the bike's braking system allegedly failed.
Duane Stemmley filed a complaint on Sept. 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Lawrence Stemmley Sr., alleging the defendant failed to properly maintain his motorcycle.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 26, 2015, he was operating Lawrence Stemmley's Harley-Davidson motorcycle when its braking system failed, causing him to lose control of the motorcycle and crash.
He claims he suffered serious injuries that required medical care and attention and caused great pain and mental anguish, disability and loss of enjoyment of life.
Duane Stemmley alleges Lawrence Stemmley failed to perform brake repairs on his motorcycle in a workmanlike manner.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensation in excess of $50,000, plus costs of this suit. He is represented by Steven A. Katzman of Katzman & Sugden LLC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-501