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Man sues after 30-foot fall in Elgin

An electrician is suing the Elgin-based John Sanfilippo and Son Inc. for injuries sustained after a scissor lift collapsed and he fell 30 feet in June 2009.

Anthony Knapcik, of Winfield, filed the suit against the parent company of Fisher Nuts as well as West Chicago-based Apex Material Handling Corp., charging the two entities with negligence.

Knapcik, who was 23 at the time, alleges in the lawsuit that the two companies should have inspected the scissor lift beforehand.

He also is suing the Pennsylvania-based JLG Industries, the manufacturer of the lift, citing product liability.

Knapcik’s lawsuit says he was injured June 10, 2009, after the lift failed while he was performing work at the Sanfilippo headquarters, 1703 N. Randall Road, Elgin.

“It collapsed with him still inside the lift,” said Knapcik’s attorney, John Malm, adding his client broke both wrists and also had head and knee injuries. “He has regained function sufficient to return to work.”

A message left at the Sanfilippo office was not immediately returned, nor was an email to a Sanfilippo spokeswoman.

A man who answered the phone at Apex said the company would have no comment.

Malm argues it was the duty of Sanfilippo and Apex to inspect the lift, especially since JLG put out a memo on Jan. 28, 2009, indicating a lift cylinder pin “could loosen over time.”

Knapcik seeks a jury trial and damages in excess of $50,000.

The parties are due in court for an initial hearing before Judge Kevin T. Busch on Aug. 25.