Pedestrian sues property owner, village of Skokie for injuries

A Cook County consumer has sued a retail property owner and manager, along with a municipality, alleging liability in a 2014 accident.

Sonya Helmer filed a lawsuit April 10 in Cook County Circuit Court against Gendell Partners Skokie, Terraco Inc., and the village of Skokie, alleging negligence in an April 2014 injury.

According to the filing, on April 22, 2014, Helmer was on the defendants' property in the 9200 block of Skokie Blvd., Skokie, when she fell. The suit says Gendell and Terraco owed a duty of ordinary care and failed to place warning devices such as barricades in an area of the sidewalk where she fell and was injured.

The suit alleges Gendell and Terraco failed to inspect, maintain and repair the area in question and keep the sidewalk in a reasonably safe condition. Helmer also alleges the village of Skokie failed to maintain the public way safely. The suit states the defendants should have known about a defect in the concrete pavement.

The plaintiff cites severe and permanent injuries leading to medical, surgical and nursing care, pain and disability, lost earnings and wages and lost profits.

Helmer seeks damages of more than $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs. She is represented by attorney Kenneth Apicella of Drost, Gilber, Andrew & Apicella in Palatine.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 15-L-3774.