Grayslake auto shop faces wrongful death lawsuit over defective exhaust

A wrongful death lawsuit filed in McHenry County Circuit Court claims a Grayslake auto repair shop allowed a driver to leave his facility with a defective exhaust system. The driver and his 20-year-old passenger later died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their parked car in Crystal Lake.

Yancy Sanchez Rodriguez, the mother of the passenger, filed the suit on behalf of her daughter’s estate. The plaintiff is Yeisimar Morales-Sanchez, who was 20 at the time of her death. The lawsuit names Amerimex Mufflers, Brakes & Auto Repair, Inc., located at 42 North Barron Boulevard in Grayslake, as the defendant.

The filing states that Kirby Graham, 32, of Grayslake, brought his car to the shop for an exhaust inspection. According to the suit, the shop addressed the exhaust but still permitted Graham to drive off. The lawsuit alleges the exhaust system remained defective and allowed excessive levels of carbon monoxide to enter the vehicle.

The complaint says the shop knew or should have known the system was in an unreasonably dangerous condition. It further claims the shop failed to warn Graham about the carbon monoxide. The suit accuses the business of failing to use the skill and knowledge of an ordinarily careful exhaust repair technician.

Graham and Morales-Sanchez were found unconscious in their car around 5:32 a.m. on November 4 in the 700 block of Coventry Lane in Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann said a 911 caller reported two people possibly asleep in a vehicle parked on the roadway. Officers found the pair not breathing in the car, which was parked on South Coventry Court near Coventry Lane.

Paramedics began lifesaving measures, but both Graham and Morales-Sanchez were pronounced dead at the scene. The McHenry County Coroner’s Office identified the two as co-workers at a manufacturing plant in McHenry. Coroner Dr. Michael Rein ruled that both died from carbon monoxide toxicity and noted the car had a defective exhaust system.

The lawsuit seeks more than $100,000 in damages on each of its two counts, including a survival claim and a wrongful death claim, plus court costs and interest. It also alleges the shop violated the Illinois Automotive Repair Act by failing to provide a written estimate, consumer authorization, or an accurate invoice. The filing describes these actions as a deceptive practice.

Yilber Morales, the father of the deceased, and Yeibar Morales, her brother, are named as beneficiaries under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act. The suit claims the family was deprived of the love, affection, and financial support of their relationship with Morales-Sanchez. The filing states she suffered conscious pain and suffering before her death.

Highland Park attorney Guy D. Geleerd Jr. represents the family in this case. Court records show no attorney has filed an appearance on behalf of the shop. A special process server attempted to serve the lawsuit at the Grayslake location three times but was unable to make contact.

The case is scheduled to return to court on November 5. Geleerd will present a motion asking the judge to allow the shop to be served through an alternative method.