100-year-old woman sues attacker, his employer

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) -- A 100-year-old woman has sued the man who assaulted her last year and the company that employed him to install windows in homes.

Mildred Cobb is suing Jason Ingrim, 31, who was convicted of attacking her. She is also suing Brandt's Fuel Savers, which employed Brandt, who was on parole for a burglary.

"The purpose of the suit is to hopefully eliminate the possibility of this type of thing happening in the future," said Jack Hendrix, Cobb's attorney.

Ingrim was convicted in June of first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and attempted forcible rape. His sentencing hearing is Friday.

The lawsuit states said Cobb, who suffered bruises and a broken nose, also suffered emotional trauma, distress and nightmares because of the attack. She is suing for actual damages to cover her medical expenses and unspecified punitive damages.

The lawsuit also contends that Brandt's Fuel Savers showed "conscious disregard for the safety of its customers" in hiring Ingrim and giving him a job that allowed him contact with customers at their homes.

"It's our position that Brandt's knew that he was on parole and what his convictions were and nevertheless sent him out to her house," Hendrix said. "Certainly, my client would not have used their services if she would have known convicted burglars were going to be coming by her house, getting free looks at it."

Miles Brandt, owner of Brandt's Fuel Savers, said, "I don't think they've got a foot to stand on."

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Information from: St. Joseph News-Press, http://www.stjoenews-press.com