BELLEVILLE — A man is suing John Deere for allegedly manufacturing a defective riding lawn mower that caused his father's death.
Dale Sudholt, as independent administrator of the estate of Duane Sudholt, deceased, filed a complaint on June 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against John Deere Company, Deere & Company and WM Nobbe and Company Inc., alleging the defendants violated the Wrongful Death Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 29, 2015, Duane Sudholt died while operating a riding lawn mower manufactured by the defendants. The plaintiff claims the lawn mower rolled over and fuel was released or ejected, which ignited and engulfed the decedent in flames.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to provide adequate devices to prevent fuel leaks in the event of a rollover.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in a sum reasonable and equitable and in excess of $50,000, plus cost of suit and any other further relief the court deems just and proper.
He is represented by J. Michael Weilmuenster of Weilmuenster & Keck PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-326