Laurel Commons LLC and Mayor J. Michael Ihle were also named as defendants in the suit.
On Aug. 28, 2014, Tanya Watson was visiting her mother at Laurel Commons apartment complex when she was tasked to walk her mother’s dog, according to a complaint filed May 17 in Jackson Circuit Court.
Watson claims while walking her mother’s dog, she stepped on a metal water meter cover that was not appropriately or properly secured or fitted on the rim of the hole and it flipped or slid off, causing her foot and leg to drop or fall into the hole.
Because of the incident, Watson suffered extensive pain, permanent injury, incurred medical expenses and otherwise suffered the permanent loss of enjoyment of life to some degree, according to the suit.
Watson claims the defendants failed to properly maintain its water distribution system in a manner that was reasonably safe for the non-trespassing public.
The defendants also breached their duty of care by causing Watson’s injuries, according to the suit.
Watson is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Lee F. Benford II and Henry E. Wood III.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Thomas C. Evans.
Jackson Circuit Court case number: 16-C-39