Woman blames apartment building owner for fall on stairs

An Evanson property owner is facing a lawsuit from a woman who fell down a stairwell because its handrail allegedly didn't meet code.

Aelyn Villegas filed a lawsuit May 16 in the Cook County Circuit Court against Nicki Enterprises LLC, alleging premises liability.

According to the complaint, Villegas was in an apartment building owned by Nicki Enterprises on Dempster Street in Evanston on July 12, when she stumbled and fell down a stairwell.

Villegas alleges the handrail for the stairs in question did not meet Evanston building code specifications.

She is seeking more than $50,000 in damages and is being represented in the case by attorney Matthew I. Baker.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L005272.

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