Mom sues building owner after toddler falls from second-story window

A mother whose 2-year-old son fell from their second-story apartment window last year in the East Garfield Park neighborhood has filed a lawsuit against the building’s owner.

Shanda Ross filed the negligence lawsuit Friday in Cook County Circuit Court.

About 2:15 a.m. Oct. 3, 2014, Ross’ son placed his hands on a damaged window screen of an opened window in their apartment in the 3300 block of West Warren, according to the suit.

The ripped screen gave way and the boy fell through the window, dropping 17-feet to the sidewalk below, the suit claims.

He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said at the time, adding that the fall appeared to be accidental.

The screen had been in disrepair and was ripped for a long time prior to the fall, the suit alleges. Ross claims she had requested that her landlord fix it but he refused.

Under the Municipal Code of Chicago, landlords are required to supply screens.

City records show that the building failed an inspection on Oct. 2, 2014, and was cited for missing window screens, not having a smoke detector in the interior stair, unsanitary walls and ceilings and not having peepholes on the apartment doors, among other things.

Ross’ two-count lawsuit seeks at least $100,000 in damages.

The landlord could not be reached for comment Friday evening.