Appeals court allows lawsuit against Webb City R-7 to continue

The Missouri Southern District Court of Appeals today overturned Jasper County Circuit Court Judge David Mouton's summary judgment ruling and allowed a Webb City woman's lawsuit against the Webb City R-7 School District to continue.

Leola DeGonia sued the district after slipping and falling in a puddle in a school cafeteria, according to her lawsuit.

DeGonia's attorney said that the teachers in the cafeteria should have known about the slow leak that she says created the puddle and did something about it. District officials said the reason their teachers did nothing about it was because there was no puddle.

Mouton granted the district's motion for summary judgment. The appellate court ruled that Mouton erred since inferences could be made for both sides, which made it a fact finding issue that should be decided by a jury.