Apartment rental agency Herbst Properties is facing a lawsuit for allegedly breaching a “duty to exercise ordinary care” over a visitor's trip and fall incident.
In August 2017, Plaintiff Ryan Murphy was invited to the apartment of Sean & Heidi Turner owned by Herbst when he fell into a “large unseen hole on the premises.” Murphy claims he suffered severe and permanent injuries to his left arm, left leg and lower back as a result of the fall. He further claims he has had to endure medical care and will continue to require medical attention in the future.
The complaint states that Herbst and the Turners had failed to properly inspect and maintain the property while not informing Murphy of “dangerous and unsafe conditions.”
Murphy is seeking $50,000 in damages, stating that the accident caused him to lose earnings from his occupation and that he “suffered a loss of quality of life.”
Herbst was initially contacted but was unavailable for comment.
Murphy is represented by W. Alex Lamb of Lieser Law Firm in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 19L550.