BELLEVILLE - A Christmas Day incident on the stairs at the entrance to a club has prompted a lawsuit against the owners.
Laura Remulius claims she fell and injured herself on the stairs, and blames the height difference of the steps for the accident.
Remulius, of Belleville, filed suit Oct. 23 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the Columbus Club of Millstadt following the alleged fall on Dec. 25, 2017.
"The stairs at the entrance of the Columbus Club posed an unreasonable risk of harm due to a height difference in the steps and/or landing," the complaint states.
It describes the stairs as the principal way of entering and exiting the club on West Oak Street. A representative from the club was not available to comment on the suit ahead of publication.
It is claimed that the defendant had a duty to be reasonably careful to stop customers being injured, but that it failed to do so.
The complaint accuses the defendant, through its employees, was "careless and negligent" by permitting a "height difference in the stairs when the defendant knew, or should have known, that doing so would pose an unreasonable risk of harm to the plaintiff and others."
Further, it is claimed, Remulius and others were not warned of the height difference of the stairs, the defendant did not do anything to prevent the risk of harm, and, more generally, failed to to provide patrons with a safe way to enter and exit the building.
The plaintiff has suffered "severe, painful, disabling, and permanent injuries including, but not limited to, a fractured pelvis, labral tears, and torn hamstring." In addition, she has developed emotional pain and suffering, and has lost wages and benefits.
Remulius, who is represented by William Niehoff and Mellisa Meirink of Mathis, Marifian & Richter in Belleville, is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 2019-L-744.