EDWARDSVILLE - A woman claims a construction company damaged a water meter lid by driving heavy construction equipment over it, causing her to fall into a hole when she stepped on the lid.
Julie Parnell filed a lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Eagle Windows and Siding, Inc. doing business as Eagle Home Improvement, and the Village of Bethalto, alleging negligence.
According to the lawsuit, Eagle Home Improvement was hired to perform construction work on Bartmer Street in Bethalto in October 2021. A water meter owned by Bethalto was in the front yard of the project site, which allowed access through a round metal lid that partially covered a buried metal flange that housed the water meter. Parnell claims that while she was visiting the homeowner of the residence, she was walking in the front yard and stepped on the unsecured water meter lid. The lid allegedly flipped over and caused her leg to fall in the hole, resulting in serious injuries.
Parnell alleges the defendants were negligent in failing to barricade or cordon off the water meter, causing damage to the water meter by driving heavy construction equipment on it, failing to properly inspect the water meter, failing to adequately warn others at the site of dangerous conditions, failing to remedy the broken water meter, failing to secure the water meter lid, failing to report the broken water meter and failing to train employees to inspect the water meter after driving heavy equipment over it.
Parnell claims she was caused to suffer past and future physical pain and suffering and incurred medical expenses.
Parnell seeks a sum in excess of $50,000, plus pre and post-judgment interest and court costs. Parnell is represented by Matthew R. Chapman of becker Schroader & Chapman PC in Granite City.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 22-LA-000267