Personal Injury Law

Chicago Personal Injury Lawsuit Seeks Damages from South Side Elementary School Principal for Slamming Special Education Student?s Finger in Locker

Chicago Police Officer Darryl Edwards is suing Thomas A. Hendricks Elementary Principal Joyce Wilson Toran for Chicago injuries to a minor. Edwards?s son, a special education eighth grader at the school, injured his finger when it got caught in his locker door that Toran had closed shut.

According to the 14-year-old, he was listening to his iPod on March 23 when he was approached by the principal, who told him to stop listening to the music and come to her office. He decided to stop at his locker first. After he opened the locker, Toran approached him and slammed the locker door. The teen?s right ring finger got caught in it and had to be treated at Blue Island hospital. The police report states that Toran confirmed closing the locker door but said that she didn?t know that the 14-year-old?s finger was there until he started screaming.

Per the Chicago personal injury lawsuit, the teen?s finger was so badly injured that he has had to undergo two finger surgeries. The complaint says it is too soon to determine whether there will be permanent damage.

Edwards is accusing Toran and the Chicago Board of Education of ?willful and wanton misconduct.? He called Toran?s conduct, even if accidental, ?reckless.? His Chicago injury complaint is seeking at least $50,000 in damages.

Chicago, Illinois Personal Injury
Illinois schools can be held liable for Chicago injury if a student is injured on the premise because of negligence, recklessness, or carelessness on the part of the administration or its employees. Even if the responsible party never intended to cause injury or death, which is usually the case, you may still be able to hold him/her and/or the entity liable for your pain and suffering, mental trauma, medical costs, recovery expenses, rehabilitation bills, lost wages, and other losses.

Suit: Principal slammed teen's hand in locker, Chicago Sun-Times, April 3, 2010

Related Web Resources:
The Chicago Board of Education

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on April 16, 2010 (boomark / email).