Employee Injured In St. Gerald Elevator Plunge Sues Maintenance Company

A man who was employed at St. Gerald Parish School is suing an elevator company over claims that the elevator he was riding dropped several feet at a high rate of speed without warning.

Edwin Zielinski filed a personal injury suit on Oct. 10 in Cook County Circuit Court against Amerihoist and Elevator Company of Chicago.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff was employed at St. Gerald’s, on Jan. 25, 2013 and was riding the building’s elevator when it took a sudden, high-speed drop. The plaintiff injured his back in the fall and claims to have suffered permanent lumbar spinal injuries.

In addition to his injuries, he has racked up medical bills and other monetary damages.

The lawsuit alleges that Amerihoist neglected to properly inspect, maintain, service, repair, sell and install parts that would have prevented the elevator from falling.

The company also told the plaintiff and his employer that the elevator was safe and in proper working condition when it should have known that the elevator was not safe and unreasonably dangerous, the complaint said.

Zielinski is asking for damages exceeding $50,000.

The case is represented by attorney Charles Cannon of Mahoney Crowe and Goldrick, P.C. in Chicago.