Knights Of Columbus Faces Lawsuit: Plaintiff Seeks $50,000 Judgment Against Joliet Columbian Club

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Knights of Columbus were hit with a civil lawsuit filed last week at the Will County Courthouse by Roger Molenhouse, a man from Worth who has retained a Chicago law firm in the hopes of obtaining a judgment against the Knights of Columbus in excess of $50,000.

The lawsuit explains that the Joliet Knights of Columbus Building Association is a not-for-profit corporation authorized to conduct business in Illinois and on Jan. 22, 2024, the club owned, operated and managed the premises at 100 129th Infantry Drive in Joliet. On that date, the lawsuit outlined, co-defendant Robert Schmitt operated or managed the premises, as did the Joliet Knights of Columbus building association.

"On or about Jan. 22, 2024, plaintiff was lawfully on the premises of defendants in the course of his employment and was making a delivery to the Joliet Columbian Club. While making the delivery, plaintiff slipped and fell due to the unnatural accumulation of ice on the floor which had not been salted," the lawsuit contends. "As a result, plaintiff suffered serious injuries."

Molenhouse's lawsuit was filed last week at the Will County Courthouse by attorney Casey Kingsley of The Law Offices of McCready, Garcia and Leet on Chicago's West Madison Street.

The lawsuit accuses the Joliet Knights of Columbus on Infantry Drive of negligence. noting, "the defendant Joliet Columbia Club, through their agents and or employees, owed a duty of reasonable care to persons lawfully on their premises including the plaintiff."