BELLEVILLE -- A cleaner is suing a Millstadt restaurant as well as the president of the restaurant and his relative after he was allegedly attacked while cleaning the facility.
Charles Fleming filed his complaint in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Reinhardt's Restaurant and Lounge, Walter Reinhardt, and Wesley Reinhardt. The suit states that Walter Reinhardt is the president of the restaurant.
Charles Fleming in October of 2018 had been hired to clean Reinhardt’s Restaurant and Lounge located at 201 West Madison St. in Millstadt.
While cleaning the restaurant, Fleming claims he was attacked by Wesley Reinhardt, who was on the premises at the time. Wesley Reinhardt is assumed to be related to Walter Reinhardt, although court documents do not specify the relation. Additionally, Wesley Reinhardt is not currently listed as an employee on Reinhardt’s Restaurant and Lounge’s website.
Although court documents do not go into detail about the alleged encounter between Wesley Reinhardt and Fleming, they do say the defendant “intentionally and without provocation viciously and brutally attacked and battered” Fleming, causing him bodily injuries.
Fleming also alleges in his lawsuit that as a result of the attack, he suffered disability and disfigurement, pain and suffering, medical bills, emotional distress, loss of income and loss of a normal life.
Fleming is seeking damages to cover all income he lost and costs he incurred as a result of the incident, which he claims is in excess of $50,000.
The lawsuit alleges that Walter Reinhardt is culpable because he had knowledge of Wesley Reinhardt being a danger to Fleming and that it was “reasonably foreseeable” he would attack Fleming. The lawsuit further alleges that Walter Reinhardt, as the president of the restaurant, had a responsibility to protect Fleming from Wesley Reinhardt.
As a result, the plaintiff alleges Walter Reinhardt is guilty of failing to ban Wesley Reinhardt from the restaurant; allowing him on the premises when he knew he could be a danger to Fleming; failing to provide adequate security and failing to prevent Wesley Reinhardt from attacking Fleming, among other negligent acts.
Calls to Reinhardt’s Restaurant and Lounge were not answered, as the restaurant is currently closed due to reconstruction following a kitchen fire. Request for comment via Reinhardt’s Facebook page had also not been answered as of press time.
Fleming’s attorney, Kevin Boyne, declined to comment.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 19-L-477