Suit Claims Roaches Found Inside Vending Machine Coffee

Three coffee drinkers have filed a lawsuit after claiming they found roaches inside their coffee at a Joliet Junior College vending machine last summer.

The suit was filed Tuesday in Will County against Hometown Suburban Vending and seeks $50,000 in damages for each complainant.

Bobbi Smith, who was a student at the time, and Gary Broyles, an employee, say they bought coffee from a college cafeteria vending machine on July 26. After taking a first sip, both saw roaches in their coffee cups, the lawsuit states.

The same thing happened on Aug. 22, the lawsuit states, when JJC staff member Richard Anderson bought coffee from the machine in the cafeteria.

He took a sip, then saw a cockroach in the cup, the lawsuit says.

Smith, Broyles and Anderson are represented by Bolingbrook attorney Bart Durham.

A woman who answered the phone at Hometown Suburban Vending in Oak Lawn on Tuesday said there was no one available to comment on the lawsuit.

The case is scheduled for a first appearance before a judge July 22.