CHICAGO – The mother of a man who died after a vehicle plunged into the Calumet River is seeking damages from the owner of a marina, alleging it failed to prevent vehicles from entering the water.
Doris Hendricks, independent administrator of the estate of Demetrius Hendricks, filed a complaint on Dec. 17 in Cook County Circuit Court against Sunset Bay Marina LLC alleging wrongful death.
According to the complaint, the defendant owns and manages a marina and boat storage facility on Hoxie Avenue in Chicago. The suit states on Nov. 4, Demetrius Hendricks was a passenger in a vehicle that traveled westbound on east 136th Street onto the unguarded boat launch ramp, entered the Calumet River, and sank. As a result, the suit states Demetrius Hendricks drowned.
The plaintiff alleges the defendant did not guard or protect the boat launch ramp to prevent vehicles from unknowingly driving into the river and did not place warning signs.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for damages of more than $50,000, plus costs. She is represented by Daniel J. McDevitt of McDevitt Law Offices PC in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 18-L-013544