Medford School District sued over fallen pull-up bar - Gate House

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2016-03-29

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By Vickie Aldous February 01. 2016 4:31PM Medford School District sued over fallen pull-up bar The Medford School District is being sued for up to $500,000 after a pull-up bar allegedly fell off a high shelf at North Medford High School and struck a sophomore, causing a head injury. The case is scheduled to go to trial in March in Jackson County Circuit Court. The boy's mother filed the lawsuit in 2015, alleging an unsecured, unattached pull-up bar fell about 8 feet off the shelf onto her son's head on May 17, 2013. As a result of a head injury, he had to withdraw from all athletic activities and was unable to attend school full-time for the remainder of his sophomore year. The cumulative effect of the injury, on top of previous injuries, left the boy exceedingly vulnerable to even a very slight future head injury, the lawsuit alleges. He is also at risk for developing delayed symptoms, including epilepsy, seizures, memory difficulties, headaches and confusion, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit alleges the school district was negligent in storing the bar on a high shelf and for disregarding a work order for about nine months that authorized installing the bar for pull-ups. The Medford School District issued a written statement to the media about the lawsuit, saying, "Because of legal and privacy issues, the district cannot comment directly about this suit. As with all cases of this nature, legal representatives take their time to carefully investigate an incident before potential court appearances. The district places the highest priority on student safety and accident protocols and cares deeply about the health and welfare (of) all students." Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160201/NEWS/160209964 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->