Woman Blames Mall Owners, Restaurant for Fall On Sidewalk

A woman is suing the owners of a shopping mall and a dining restaurant company over claims that she injured herself falling on a defective sidewalk.

Sheila Waters filed a lawsuit on Jan. 2 in Cook County Circuit Court against Star-West Chicago Ridge LLC, the owner of Chicago Ridge Mall, and CBI and Associates Management and ERJ Dining IV, LLC, doing business as Chili’s Bar and Grill.

According to the lawsuit, Waters visited Chili’s during the early evening of Jan. 5, 2013. As she was entering the restaurant, she tripped and fell over a height deviation between the sidewalk and brick paving near the front door of Chili’s.

The lawsuit maintains that it was the mall and restaurant’s responsibility to maintain the sidewalk and keep it in a safe condition for Waters and other patrons.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the mall owners failed to maintain, repair and correct the defective sidewalk.

Waters is asking for damages in excess of $50,000.

Chicago attorney David Nemeroff is representing the case.

The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff filed in Cook County County Circuit Court. The complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and represents only one side of the story.