Edward Jones Sued by Woman Attacked at South County Mall

The victim of a 2009 attack at South County Mall filed suit in July against financial advising giant Edward Jones.

According to court documents, Erica Whitley says Edward Jones employee Marcy B. Pinnell assisted Arnold resident Mark Wells in transferring his assets to his sisters, Rebecca Holmes and Patience Joles, in an effort to hide and protect them from collection by Whitley.

A St. Louis County jury awarded Whitley $525,000 against Wells in connection with an attack on Whitley at Claire’s Boutique in South County Mall the day after she turned in Wells’ teenage daughter for shoplifting. The jury returned the verdict on April 12 after a two-day trial.

Whitley alleges in the court documents that Pinnell knew Wells had assaulted her and faced both criminal and civil liability for doing so. It is alleged that Pinnell participated in the conspiracy to hide Wells’ assets on May 3, 2010, by transferring two of Wells’ Edward Jones accounts, valued at $665,000, to Holmes and Joles.

Pinnell is a financial advisor for Edward Jones in Maryville, IL. Whitley wants Wells’ financial transfers to his sisters nullified to satisfy her $525,000 judgment. She also demands punitive damages against the defendants. Paul Passanante is representing Whitley. He did not return a phone call seeking comment.