A Knoxville woman’s lawsuit related to serious injuries she sustained in an ATV crash in 2015 has failed on appeal in Illinois’ Third District Appellate Court.
The suit was brought by Tessa Jones, a Knoxville resident at the time, who was injured when she was a passenger on an All-Terrain-Vehicle in March 2015.
Her suit against George and William Steck, owners of the land where the crash occurred, never reached trial in Henderson County Court.
Judge Scott Shiplett granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment.
Jones’ friend Maria Steck was operating the vehicle, driving around a large tract of land in Henderson County owned by her father and uncle, William and George Steck.
Maria and Tessa drove through a field, and up onto a levee, toppling into the levee’s washout injuring both women.
Jones also filed a complaint against Maria.
The levee breach was difficult to see because the Steck brothers had allowed vegetation to grow over the area.
The Stecks’ argued they didn’t owe Jones a duty to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition for an ATV, and therefore weren’t liable.
The Circuit Judge agreed and the 3rd District Appellate court affirmed.
