A Granite City tree service company claims one of its employees is contributorily negligent for any alleged damages after he fell from a bucket truck.
Toby Thomas filed the complaint on July 25 against Mike Hanfelder, doing business as Hanfelder’s Tree Service.
Thomas alleges that on May 22, 2015, he was working for Hanfelder in one of the defendant’s bucket trucks when he fell from the bucket.
Thomas claims he sustained disabling and disfiguring injuries, pain and mental anguish, lost wages and medical expenses.
He alleges Hanfelder failed to provide a well-maintained bucket truck and safety harness and failed to obtain worker’s compensation insurance.
Hanfelder answered the complaint on Oct. 19 through attorney John Papa of Callis Papa & Szewczyk in Granite City.
He denied the allegations against him and argued in his affirmative defenses that Thomas was contributorily negligent.
Thomas seeks a judgment of more than $50,000.
He is represented by Gregory Shevlin of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin in Belleville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-1048