EDWARDSVILLE – A father is suing his daughter's mother after she allegedly caused a collision while under the influence of drugs, killing her daughter who was riding along as a passenger.
Cody Tillman, acting as special administrator of the estate of his daughter Kimberly Tillman, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the Madison County Circuit Court against Travis Michaels, Travis Michaels Trucking, Benjamin Brunoehler, Bob's Discount Furniture, LLC and Laura Schmittling, citing negligence.
According to the lawsuit, on Nov. 10, 2020, Kimberly Tillman was a passenger in a car driven by her mother, Schmittling, on Nov. 10, 2020. The plaintiff alleges Schmittling, an uninsured motorist, was driving under the influence of drugs when she suddenly lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Schmittling allegedly crashed into vehicles being driven by Michaels, who was under the scope of his employment with Travis Michaels Trucking and Brunoehler, who was under the employment of Bob's Discount Furniture. Kimberly Tillman was tragically killed in the collision.
The lawsuit states that Michaels and Brunoehler bear responsibility because they were negligently driving in a manner that made them unable to avoid the crash.
The suit alleges that Kimberly Tillman's death has caused grief and sorrow to her next of kin. Her father is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. The plaintiff is represented in this case by the attorneys of The Law offices of Kevin J. Roach in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 2022LA001405