Suit: Handicapped Parking Dispute Outside Grocery Caused Heart Attack
CHICAGO (STMW) - A handicapped man filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a South Loop grocery that he claims is responsible for his heart attack because he became upset when non-handicapped vehicles were parked in handicapped spaces.
Jerry Orloff claims he became upset and had a heart attack Aug. 11, 2009, while "attempting to discuss" non-handicapped vehicles parked in handicapped spaces in the Jewel parking lot at 1224 S. Wabash Ave., according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
The suit claims Jewel-Osco and North Central Security Agency LTD were responsible for the store and parking lot, including providing parking spaces for vehicles and exclusive handicapped spaces.
Orloff claims Jewel and the security service failed to monitor and operate the parking lot in a "fair, just, orderly and reasonable manner" and permitted non-handicapped people to park in the designated handicapped spaces.
The suit also claims Jewel and North Central Security should have known the "extreme and outrageous conduct in response to being informed of the shortcomings of the manner in which the parking lot was being maintained would cause extreme grief, outrage, upset and anguish, potentially to the detriment and injury of a handicapped patron."
Orloff is seeking more than $50,000 plus the cost of the suit from Jewel-Osco and North Central Security Agency. SuperValu, which owns Jewel-Osco, did not respond for a request for comment.
© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2011. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
