Sugar Grove woman sues village over injuries from sidewalk fall

A Sugar Grove woman who was injured after she tripped on a section of uneven sidewalk filed a lawsuit against the village seeking more than $150,000 in damages and legal costs, records show.

Julia Ann Haen fell on the sidewalk in front of 505 Willow St. on Feb. 28, resulting in injuries, pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, loss of a normal life and loss of consortium with her husband, according to the five-page lawsuit filed Dec. 1.

The lawsuit seeks more than $75,000 for each of two counts, for injuries and for loss of companionship with her husband. The filing also claims that the village had notice of the uneven sidewalk’s trip hazard for more than four years.

In response to a request for comment, Village Administrator Scott Koeppel sent an email stating, “The village is working with our attorneys and insurance provider on the matter and cannot comment further.”

Haen’s attorney, Larry Amoni, said municipalities have a legal requirement to maintain sidewalks.

“Cities own sidewalks, and they have a legal duty for a reasonable inspection system in place,” Amoni said. “It’s a non-delegable duty.”

In short, a municipality cannot delegate sidewalk maintenance because it’s its property.

Amoni cited the U.S. Housing and Urban Development 2021 national standards, which require the physical inspection of sidewalks, particularly when there are vertical differences between sections.

Amoni said no one expects municipal employees to be checking sidewalks every second of every day – just an annual or semi-annual inspection.

As to the specifics of his client’s injuries, he would only say, “It was a significant life-changing injury.”