EDWARDSVILLE – A patron who alleges he tripped and fell when exiting a Brighton bar is accusing the owners of negligence.
Chad J. Strohkirich, in a suit filed Sept. 23 in Madison County Circuit Court, alleges he tripped and fell on a 2-inch edge as he left Duke’s Cabaret Lounge in Brighton on Oct. 12, 2017. The suit names Native Roots, which does business as Duke’s, and owner Stephanie Graham as defendants.
The suit alleges the bar and owner had a “duty of ordinary care” to the plaintiff to operate and manage the premises in a way that would not be a danger to customers. Strohkirich alleges the defendants “carelessly and negligently” let the building deteriorate to “become and remain in a dangerous condition.”
The plaintiff says the owners improperly operated and managed the building, failed to inspect the exit when “they knew, or should have known that inspection was necessary to prevent injury to the plaintiff.”
The suit states the defendants did not warn the customer, did not erect any warning signs and did not put in place a ramp over the 2-inch edge. The fall, the suit states, caused Strohkirich to suffer “severe and permanent injuries,” both external and internal, and left him unable to carry out his usual duties.
The suit states the plaintiff has spent “large sums of money” on medical expenses and has lost income since the fall in 2017.
Strohkirich seeks more than $50,000 in damages and costs of suit. He is represented by attorney Benjamin P. Tobin of Pratt & Tobin of East Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court Case number 2019-L-1347