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Suit: Cabbie Talked On Cellphone While Taxi Dragged Woman Downtown

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A woman was dragged by a taxi in the Loop in April while the driver talked on his cellphone, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

Anne Brandt filed the negligence lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging she was dragged for "some distance" after the taxi dropped her off about 8 a.m. April 23 near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street.

When Brandt got out of the cab and closed the door, she realized an article of her clothing had gotten caught in the close door of the taxi, according to the suit.

But the driver was unable to hear her attempts to communicate with him because he was talking on his cellphone, the suit claims.

The driver then drove away, subsequently dragging Brandt, the suit alleges.

Brandt claims the driver did not allow her to reach a place of safety before he moved the taxi and failed to check to make sure she had safely gotten out of the cab before moving, the suit said. She also accused him of being distracted by his cellphone.

The two-count suit, which names the driver and the owner of the vehicle as defendants, is seeking at least $100,000 in damages.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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