Man says ice machine doors swung closed, hit shoulder

A customer is seeking more than $50,000 from the owner of a gas station store and one of its suppliers over injuries he alleges were caused by an ice machine.

Martin Maurer filed a lawsuit Jan. 8 in Cook County Circuit Court against Thorntons Inc. and Home City Ice Co.

According to the complaint, Maurer exited his vehicle and was about to enter the Thorntons' store at 1118 Touhy Ave. in Park Ridge on April 4, 2013, when the doors of a ice machine outside the door swung closed and struck him in the left shoulder, causing him to fall and sustain injuries.

Maurer accuses the defendants of being negligent in the operation, maintenance, inspection and repair of the ice box, and alleges the doors were improperly forced to stay open. He is represented by attorney John M. Molloy & Associates in Chicago.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in 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 represents only one side of the story.