Stage Lights and Slip-Ups: Woman Sues Onesti Entertainment After Tripping on Hidden Wire
She came for a show. She left with permanent injuries. Now she wants justice—and $50,000.
Based on Cook County Circuit Court case: Linda Squeo v. Onesti Entertainment Corporation et al., Case No. 2018L009071
It was supposed to be an ordinary night out at a local entertainment venue run by Ronald Onesti’s company. But for Linda Squeo, it turned into a trip to the emergency room—and then to court.
In a personal injury lawsuit filed in August 2018, Squeo alleged she tripped and fell over a concealed cable wire, suffering serious physical injuries while attending an event at a property managed by Onesti Entertainment Corporation.
“The Wire Was Hidden. The Damage Was Not.”
According to her complaint, the incident occurred at a property located near Lake Street and Rohlwing Road in Addison, Illinois. The premises, she says, were negligently maintained by both the Community Recreation Center and Onesti’s company, which jointly hosted the event.
The cause? A black-covered cable wire, placed across walking areas with inadequate lighting and no warning signage.
Squeo’s complaint stated she was exercising all due care when the fall occurred. The injury, she alleged, was a direct result of the venue’s negligence.
Legal Claims: A Hazardous Path
Squeo filed five counts of negligence against various defendants, including one specific to Onesti Entertainment Corporation (Count V). Among her claims:
The property was not reasonably safe for invited guests
Onesti’s company had actual or constructive notice of the hazard
The defendants failed to warn or remedy the dangerous condition
She alleged the defendants allowed the wire to remain in place “for an unreasonable length of time,” and maintained the premises in an “open, defective condition.”
The suit demanded damages in excess of $50,000, plus legal costs.
Who Was Watching the Floor?
This isn’t the first time Onesti’s companies have been cited for venue mismanagement. In the past, they’ve been sued for:
Unpaid wages
Bounced checks
Intellectual property violations
Loan defaults
But this case is different. It ties the glitz of Onesti’s entertainment operations to a public safety failure, where a guest’s injury could have easily been avoided with basic oversight.
A Fall From Grace?
The case was ultimately dismissed with prejudice, suggesting a settlement or resolution was reached between the parties. But the complaint itself remains a damning document, alleging that a beloved entertainment hub didn’t take enough care of its paying guests.
As the lights came up, Linda Squeo left the building limping—not laughing.
📑 Court Records Cited:
Case No. 2018L009071, Cook County Circuit Court
Plaintiff: Linda Squeo
Defendants: Onesti Entertainment Corporation, Community Rec Center
Allegations: Negligent maintenance, failure to warn, and injury from concealed trip hazard