Len Cox & Sons Excavating Sued By City Of Joliet Worker: Here's Why

JOLIET, IL — Ryan Evans, an employee at the city of Joliet, has retained a Chicago law firm to file a civil lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse against a long-time Joliet area contracting company that does substantial business with the city of Joliet — Len Cox & Sons Excavating.

Last week's lawsuit was filed by attorney Michael Holden of Romanucci & Blandin. The lawsuit seeks a Will County judgment in excess of $50,000 for both Ryan Evans and his wife, Samantha Evans.

According to last week's filing at the courthouse: Ryan Evans lives in Plainfield and Crest Hill-based Len Cox & Sons was doing business throughout the Chicagoland and on Jan. 17, 2023, Len Cox was awarded a contract with the city of Joliet for the Black Acres phase one water main improvements.

The work consisted of installing 1,490 lineal feet of 6-inch, 10,540 lineal feet of 8-inch and 3,360 lineal feet of 12-inch water mains, including new hydrants and values, sanitary sewer pain repairs and other work.

The water main improvements in Joliet took place on Arden Place, Mason Avenue, Avalon Avenue, Douglas Street, Mayfield Avenue, Taylor Street, West Acres Road, Westnege Road, Springfield Avenue and Madison Street.

The lawsuit noted that Len Cox's work included installation of a fire hydrant and new water main near 2233 Taylor Street. The contract required existing curb be broken, removed and disposed.

As of July 11, 2023, Ryan Evans, the lawsuit plaintiff, worked for Joliet and the water main at 2233 Taylor Street was reported leaking. Evans went to perform work for Joliet, repairing the old water main and "Len Cox & Sons Excavating had a duty to use reasonable care in performing their work," the lawsuit outlined.

As for Ryan Evans, he was performing underground work to repair the old water main when a large portion of the cut curb and concrete debris fell into the excavated hole, striking him and causing injury, his lawsuit noted.

The lawsuit accuses Len Cox & Sons of being directly responsible for his injuries by causing a hazardous condition by failing to remove construction debris created during the course of its work and having "left the curb line at 2233 Taylor Street in a state of disrepair upon completion of its work near 2233 Taylor Street."

The lawsuit indicates that Ryan Evans was caused certain injuries including a loss of normal life, physical pain, emotional suffering, legal obligations for medical expenses, a loss of earnings, increased likelihood of future injuries, disability and disfigurement.

As for his wife, Samantha Evans, she also seeks a judgment of more than $50,000 against Len Cox & Sons "for the loss of consortium ... As a direct and proximate result of the physical injuries sustained by Ryan Evans, plaintiff Samantha Evans suffered and will continue to suffer the loss of services, society, companionship and consortium of his spouse," Romanucci & Blandin declared.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Ryan Evans has been employed with the city of Joliet for nearly eight years. He was a municipal worker for most of that time and in March, he was promoted to the title of engineer aide II.

Attorneys representing Len Cox & Sons have not filed a response to the Evans' lawsuit, so far.