Legal news information for Illinois personal injury attorney’s. A water polo player was seriously injured after he hit the bottom of a pool.
Illinois personal injury lawyer’s alert-A injured water polo player at St. Ignatius college preparatory school sued the school for negligence.
Chicago, IL—St. Ignatius College Preparatory School is being sued by the family of a junior varsity water polo player, who became a quadriplegic after hitting the bottom of a pool during practice. The lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Monday, August 17, 2009, as reported by CBS 2 Chicago.
The parents of the injured water polo player, Dennis J. Connolly and Helen Connolly, filed the lawsuit on behalf of their son, Christopher Connolly. Christopher was a member of the school’s junior varsity water polo team, when on February 28, 2007 his teammates began to haze him at the school’s swimming pool. According to the lawsuit the teammates began throwing kickboards, buoys, and snowballs at Christopher. The assistant coach then allegedly started calling Christopher “flounder”, which was used in a way to make fun of him. Luis Martinez, the JV water polo coach instructed Christopher to get in the pool as the other teammates continued to throw objects and taunt him. The lawsuit says Chris then dove into the pool on his coach’s orders and hit the bottom of the pool, which caused severe bodily injury. The serious injuries left Christopher a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. The lawsuit further alleges the school failed to protect Christopher by allowing objects to be thrown at him and around the pool. In addition, the school allowed him to hazed, bullied, harassed, and intimidated by other students. There also wasn’t a certified lifeguard on duty at the pool during the practice.
The coaches or the players were not named as defendants in the lawsuit. The family of Christopher has been inundated with numerous medical expenses for their son and the severe injuries he sustained. The lawsuit is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news information for Illinois personal injury lawyers.