Woman Trips At Courthouse In 2013, Re-Files Lawsuit In 2019

JOLIET, IL - A woman who visited the Will County Courthouse in 2013, way back when Dale Sveum was still managing the Chicago Cubs, has re-filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Joliet claiming the city's negligence caused her to fall on a raised sidewalk. The civil lawsuit was re-filed on Tuesday by local personal injury attorney William Cassian of Cassian & Carter.

His Joliet law firm's website includes the motto, "No Fee Unless We Recover."

The lawsuit against the city of Joliet is only two pages long. It states that Debra Etzkorn, a current resident of Braidwood, was "lawfully on the premises" of 14 W. Jefferson St. on Sept. 19, 2013.

"That, on or about September 19, 2013, the plaintiff Debra Etzkorn tripped when her foot came into contact with a raised section of concrete that was placed so that it was on top of the flat walking surface on the sidewalk/walkway located in front of the courthouse at 14 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Will County, Illinois," Cassian & Carter informed the court.

"Debra Etzkorn fell and was injured," an excerpt of her lawsuit states. "That as a direct and proximate result of defendant's negligence, plaintiff was caused to suffer physical injuries, physical pain and physical and mental pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages and incurred medical expenses for treatment made necessary by the incident."

According to the plaintiffs, Etzkorn originally filed her lawsuit against Joliet on Sept. 10, 2014, however, the plaintiffs notified Will County's judicial system last May 18 that they were voluntarily dismissing their case.

But, now that the case was refiled, on Tuesday, "plaintiff Debra Etzkorn demands judgment in her favor and against defendant, city of Joliet, a municipal corporation, in excess of $50,000," the Cassian & Carter lawsuit reads.

File image via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor