A shocking incident involving a collapsing ceiling has led to a legal battle between two individuals from different states. Diane Hallstrom, represented by The Law Office of Kevin P. Justen, P.C., filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on July 11, 2024, against Mark Kalemba.
The lawsuit stems from an incident that occurred on November 13, 2023. On that day, Hallstrom was visiting Kalemba’s residence at 6224 Coachlight Road in Crystal Lake, Illinois. According to the complaint, Hallstrom was an invitee at Kalemba’s home when she was struck by a piece of water-soaked drywall that fell from the ceiling. The drywall had become saturated due to a persistent leak from an upstairs bathroom.
Hallstrom alleges that Kalemba knew about the leak and the resulting water damage but failed to take appropriate action to rectify the situation or warn her about the potential danger. The complaint details how Kalemba allowed his furniture to remain under the compromised ceiling and permitted Hallstrom to sit or lay on it without informing her of the risks. As a result, when the ceiling collapsed, Hallstrom sustained significant injuries to her neck, face, chest, arm, torso, and left shoulder.
The plaintiff accuses Kalemba of multiple negligent acts and omissions. These include failing to warn her of the dangerous condition despite knowing or reasonably should have known about it; allowing an unsafe condition to persist where it was foreseeable that someone like Hallstrom could be harmed; neglecting to maintain his residence in a safe condition; and carelessly permitting such hazardous conditions to exist for an unreasonable length of time.
Hallstrom asserts that due to Kalemba’s negligence, she has suffered severe and permanent bodily injuries requiring extensive medical treatment. She claims ongoing pain and suffering and anticipates future pain as well as diminished earning capacity due to her injuries.
In light of these allegations, Hallstrom seeks judgment against Kalemba for an amount exceeding $75,000 plus court costs. She aims for compensation covering medical expenses incurred and expected in the future along with damages for pain and suffering.
This article was first published in Cook County Record.
