EAST ST. LOUIS – Krupp Trucking has removed a lawsuit to federal court, which claims the defendants' negligence caused a vehicle collision which injured the plaintiff.
The lawsuit was originally filed by plaintiff Todd Johnson in the Madison County Circuit Court against defendants Krupp Trucking, LLC, Mary Wilks and Mateo Diaz, citing carelessness and negligence. Krupp Trucking, LLC filed a notice of removal to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois through attorney Craig R. Klotz in St. Louis.
In his notice of removal to federal court, which was filed Sept. 14, Klotz said the plaintiff's attorney had notified them that he had mistakenly represented that defendant Diaz lives in Illinois, when he actually lives in Missouri. Klotz argues that removal is proper based on the diversity of citizenship. Specifically the court requires the parties to be citizens of different states and the amount in question to exceed $75,000 in order to have diversity jurisdiction.
According to the original complaint, Wilks and Diaz were involved in a collision on I-270 in Granite City on July 25. The crash caused Wilks' vehicle to cross the median and strike Johnson's vehicle in a head-on collision. Wilks was driving a tractor trailer while employed by Krupp Trucking.
Johnson claims he has suffered injuries that have caused him to experience disability, pain and suffering, mental anguish. He adds that his injuries have caused him to lose wages, and will impact his ability to earn income and lead a normal life in the future.
Johnson is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. He is represented in this case by attorney Bruce Cook of Cook, Bartholomew, Shevlin, Cook & Jones, LLP in Belleville.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:22-CV-2155