Pride Fest promoter sued for negligence after a patron falls

A man is suing a Pride Fest promoter after he tripped and fell on festival grounds.

Joseph Skoudlil filed a lawsuit Oct. 31 in Cook County Circuit Court against Northalsted Area Merchants Association, doing business as Northalsted Business Alliance.

According to the complaint, on June 22 and 23, the defendant organized, promoted, produced and sponsored the 11th annual Pride Fest in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago.

As part of the festival, the defendant closed down a portion of Halsted Street. Skoudlil alleges in his suit that the defendant negligently placed a barrier in a way that the sign's "feet" created an obstruction to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Skoudlil asserts that on June 23, he was walking southbound along Broadway Street when he encountered the festival site at the intersection of Broadway and Halsted streets. He claims he tripped and fell when he struck a foot of the sign in the crosswalk, causing injuries.

Skoudlil is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. He is being represented in the case by attorney Alexander McHenry Memmen of The Memmen Law Firm LLC.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L012065.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. 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.