A Chicago mother is suing a property manager on behalf of her minor son, charging negligence in the child’s alleged lead poisoning.
Ebony Washington filed a lawsuit Sept. 8, individually and as next friend of Tahari Williams, against Linda Crockett in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging substandard building maintenance caused her son injuries in 2013.
According to the complaint, Washington resided in a leased apartment at 7831 S. Wabash, Chicago ,in a building owned and managed by the defendant from September 2010 through October 2012 and her son Tahari, born Dec. 4, 2010, lived with her.
The lawsuit states the child was in continuous contact with interior and exterior surfaces covered with dangerous lead-based paint. Walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces were in a state of disrepair, yielding to chipped and peeling areas along with airborne dust, the suit says.
The lawsuit states the child inhaled and otherwise consumed pieces of lead-based paint chips as a direct and proximate result of the defendant’s negligence, stating Crockett knew of the conditions. Washington charges the defendant with violation of the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act as well as infringement of Chicago Municipal Code.
The plaintiff alleges unlawful application of lead-based paint and failure to disclose the hazard to the plaintiffs, and says her child developed lead poisoning and required medical treatment. She alleges past and future pain and suffering, disability and/or loss of a normal life, and medical expenses for her son under the Family Expense Act.
Washington seeks judgment of more than $50,000, plus attorney fees and costs. She is represented by attorneys Bradley Skafish and Jeffrey Deutschman of Deutschman & Associates in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015009180.