Cole ex rel. Cole v. Bumiller

NORWIN D. HOUSER, Special Judge.

Minor child Diane Cole, pro ami, and her parents sued Earl Bumiller and wife, own*96ers of an apartment building in the City of St. Louis, and the managing realty company, for damages for personal injuries and medical expenses caused by Diane’s ingestion of lead-based paint in the apartment rented by defendants to the Coles. Plaintiffs’ theory was negligence per se, based upon an alleged violation of the city’s lead poisoning ordinance. A jury returned a verdict for defendants. Plaintiffs appealed.

Under the ordinance city inspectors could inspect premises and take…