COOK COUNTY RECORD

A man is suing over claims he fell from a wooden ladder while picking fruit at a Chicago Heights home.

Rafael Gonzalez filed a lawsuit July 30 in the Cook County Circuit Court accusing Miguel Vasquez of leaving his post holding the ladder steady, causing Gonzalez to fall.

Gonzalez claims that when Vasquez, the owner of the home where he was picking fruit at, left the ladder base, it itself became unsteady and fell, causing him to fall. He sustained permanent injuries and is now partially disabled, the suit states.

According to the complaint, Vasquez failed to continue to keep the ladder secure and stable, failed to provide a stable and safe ladder to Gonzalez for a safe fruit picking experience, failed to warn Gonzalez he would be leaving the ladder and failed to maintain the area where the ladder was positioned, creating an unreasonably dangerous condition.

Gonzalez seeks damages of $50,000, plus court costs, and is represented by Gregg E. Strellis of Strellis & Field of Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L007969.

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