A Marion County woman has filed a lawsuit against a Belleview church, alleging that a fall during a business networking event left her with a shattered elbow that required total joint replacement.
Kristine Sandberg filed the complaint against Ramah Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. on Nov. 20 in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County.
The lawsuit centers on an incident that occurred on Feb. 15, 2025, at the church, which is located at 10545 SE 58th Avenue in Belleview.
According to the filing, the church was hosting a “business clinic” where local vendors were invited to promote their services. Sandberg was in attendance to market her financial services business.
The complaint alleges that the church provided Sandberg with a table positioned on a sidewalk, directly outside an exit door. Sandberg claims the table was placed near a “substantial change of elevation,” describing the situation as a steep drop-off of more than three inches between the sidewalk and the ground.
The lawsuit alleges that the elevation change was unmarked and “shrouded” by the table itself.
While walking around the table to speak with an attendee, Sandberg allegedly lost her balance due to the hidden drop-off, fell, and struck her right elbow on the pavement.
Sandberg was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where imaging revealed her elbow was “broken in three places.” Two days later, she underwent “complete elbow replacement surgery” to repair the damage.
Sandberg accuses the church of negligence for creating a hazard with the table placement and failing to warn invitees of the dangerous elevation change. She is seeking damages in excess of $50,000.