A Collinsville restaurant faces a lawsuit over a claim of negligence after a customer allegedly slipped on a puddle of water as she and her husband were being directed towards a table.
Barbara and Phil Seaman, of Maryville, filed suit in Madison County Circuit Court against the Steak N Shake Corporation, an Indiana-headquartered chain with a premises on Bluff Road in Collinsville.
Barbara Seaman claims she suffered injuries following the slip, and is suing the company for negligence. Her husband claims the negligent acts led to violations of laws related "loss of society and services," that he is permanently damaged by the deprivation of "love, companionship, consortium, and society" of his wife as a direct result of incident in June, 2017.
An individual manager is also listed as a defendant in the suit. A manager at the Collinsville site directed calls to its head office in Indiana, which did not immediately return a request for comment from the Record.
The plaintiffs state in their complaint state that they were being shown to their table when the fall happened. It resulted in injuries to Barbara Seaman's wrist, arm, shoulder, neck, and back, while at the same time aggravated a pre-existing condition, according to the complaint.
It is alleged that the floor was kept in an "unreasonably dangerous and/or hazardous condition."
The defendants were negligent for failing to properly maintain the area in dispute, and not warning customers of the potential hazardous puddle, the complaint claims.
"As a direct and proximate result of the aforementioned negligent acts, plaintiff Barbara Seaman has suffered severe and permanent injuries," it is claimed.
The plaintiff is also suing for "the great deal of pain and suffering."
"She has suffered the loss of a normal life. She has been prevented from working as a result of her injuries and has and will incur lost wages from her employment." Further, she, and her husband, have paid out substantial sums to cover medical expenses, it is claimed.
They are seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages, and are represented by attorneys at Halvachs & Abernathy in Bellevillle.