Mark Harris Sr., individually and as special administrator for the estate of Mark Harris Jr., filed the suit April 15 in Madison County Circuit Court against Travis E. Crain, Bindy's Inc. and the city of Granite City.
On April 19, 2015, at approximately 3:30 a.m., the deceased was crossing Edwardsville Road while the defendant Crain was driving along the same roadway, according to the suit, which alleges that Crain negligently struck the pedestrian and caused his death.
The suit alleges the defendant was intoxicated with a blood alcohol content in excess of the legal limit.
Defendant Bindy's allegedly sold or
gave alcoholic beverages to defendant Crain, causing him to become
intoxicated, in violation of the Dram Act, the suit says.
Defendant Granite City is a party to this suit because it had allegedly known that the 2500 block of Edwardsville Road was not safe. The city was aware of other deaths and injuries there prior to the death of Mark Harris Jr., according to the complaint. Yet, because of the city's alleged negligence, the deceased was struck and killed along that highway, the suit claims.
In addition to a jury trial, the plaintiff seeks judgment against all three defendants for four of six counts against them in excess of $50,000, court costs, interest and other relief the court deems proper. For two negligence counts of survival action and wrongful death, the plaintiff seeks an amount necessary to fully and fairly compensate the estate for all losses compensable that substantially exceed the minimum jurisdictional amount, court costs and interest, and other relief the court deems proper.
The plaintiff is represented by Brent A. Sumner of The Sumner Law Group LLC in St. Louis.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 16-L-527