ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners and operators of River City Casino, alleging that their negligence led to the death of her husband during a high-speed police chase that began on casino property.
According to a court petition filed in St. Louis Circuit Court, Kelly Pratt, the widow of the deceased Derek M. Pratt, is suing Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. and PENN Entertainment Inc., seeking damages “in excess of $25,000” following her husband’s fatal crash on May 4, 2022.
The lawsuit alleges that officers from the St. Louis County Police Department were conducting an active investigation on and around River City Casino on the day of the incident.
At least two SLCPD patrol vehicles were on the casino property at the time, the complaint states.
At about 4:45 p.m. on May 4, 2022, two officers operating SLCPD patrol vehicles initiated a high-speed chase of a Hyundai Sonata that was also on the casino property.
The vehicle was driven by Marc O. Gardner, with Frank R. Moore riding as the front seat passenger, according to the suit.
The pursuit continued eastbound on River City Casino Boulevard toward South Broadway Street in St. Louis City, ultimately resulting in a violent crash between the Hyundai Sonata and a Dodge pickup truck driven by Derek Pratt.
The petition claims the impact caused Pratt’s vehicle to go airborne, rolling over multiple times before landing. It further states that Pratt was ejected from the truck and died as a result of the collision.
“As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ negligence, Plaintiff has been, and in the future will be, deprived of love, affection, companionship, services and support because of the untimely and wrongful death of her husband, Decedent Derek Pratt,” the complaint states. “Had Defendants maintained and operated the Casino Property in a reasonably prudent manner, Decedent would have been safe.”
In her filing, Kelly Pratt contends that both Gaming and Leisure Properties, which owned the casino property, and PENN Entertainment, which leased and operated it, were negligent in permitting the SLCPD to conduct what are described as “unreasonably dangerous investigative activities” on-site.
The lawsuit states that the companies either knew or should have known about the police presence and its potential to escalate into a hazardous situation.
“The defendants knew or should have known that the SLCPD investigations, which defendants permitted on Casino Property, would ripen into a dangerous incident that would likely result in severe bodily harm or death, to one or more individuals,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff is asserting that the death of her husband was a direct and foreseeable result of the defendants’ failure to maintain and operate the premises in a reasonably safe manner.
The lawsuit claims the defendants’ negligence deprived her of the love, companionship and support of her husband, according to the suit.
In addition to monetary compensation, Kelly Pratt is requesting the court to find the defendants legally liable for the untimely death of her husband.
The petition is seeking judgment in excess of $25,000, plus legal costs and any additional relief the court deems appropriate. Pratt is represented by attorneys from Cook Law LLC and Adam M. Altman Ltd.
St. Louis Circuit Court case number: 2522-CC00858