James W. Hurt filed the suit April 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Leonard C. Cotton and Latoya N. Marshall.
On Sept. 16, 2014, the plaintiff was driving a vehicle in a westbound direction on State Street in East St. Louis, the suit says. The suit alleges that defendant Cotton was, at the same time, operating a vehicle owned by defendant Marshall in a southerly direction, attempting to make a right turn and proceed east along State Street.
Cotton allegedly committed the following negligent acts: failed to stop at a stop sign, failed to yield the right of way to another vehicle, failed to keep his vehicle under proper control, and operated his vehicle without adequate brakes.
Cotton drove through the stop sign and collided with the vehicle driven by the plaintiff, according to the suit, which claims the plaintiff suffered injuries to his body, has incurred medical expenses, and has lost the ability to work and his enjoyment of life.
The plaintiff's complaint against defendant Marshall claims that, in loaning Cotton her vehicle, she was allegedly negligent in that she should have known Cotton had a revoked license, had no insurance, was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, had been without sleep and was emotionally unstable, impairing his ability to drive.
In addition, according to the complaint, Cotton has a long history of vehicular misconduct, about which Marshall should have known.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against the defendant in excess of $50,000 plus court costs. He is represented by Robert C. Nelson of Nelson & Nelson, Attorneys at Law PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-202