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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Slip and fall on alleged bead hazard at amusement center leads to lawsuit

State Court

BELLEVILLE - Little amusement followed a trip to a fun center for a man who claims the negligence of owners and staff led to him slipping and falling on loose beads scattered across a section of the floor.

Matthew McCain was at Sky Zone Amusement in Fairview Heights, known as a mecca for trampolining enthusiasts, to celebrate a child's birthday party on Sept. 6, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 9 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. 

But his attempt to run up one of the obstacles in the center ended when his feet unwittingly met the beads, which was followed by the slip and falll. They were "all over the ground" where a mat met the wood floor, joined by duct tape, according to the complaint.

"Plaintiff did not know of the presence of the beads on the floor and had no reason to know of the beads on the floor," the suit claims, adding that there were no employees near to see, clean up, or warn people of the bead hazard. Sky Zone did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Record.

"Defendant, through its employees, was responsible for the beads being on the floor...(and) knew or should have known the floor was in a dangerous condition," the complaint continued.

It is also alleged that employees were stationed at the slip and fall site in the lead up to the incident, but not at the time the plaintiff began his obstacle run.

The defendant stands accused of negligence for failing to provide a safe means of using its equipment, failing to warn the plaintiff of the beads, and failing to post signs or other warnings in the vicinity. Sky Zone was, in short, negligent in maintaining its premises, it is alleged.

The "plaintiff has suffered, and will suffer in the future, severe injury and pain, Iost wages, lost enjoyment of Iife, pain and suffering and disability as a result of defendant's negligence," the complaint concluded. He is seeking more than $50,000.

McCain is represented by Jarrod P. Beasley of Kuehn, Beasley, & Young of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 19-L-0718.

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