Personal Injury Law

Former Jockey Files Cook County Personal Injury Lawsuit Over Arlington Park Horse Racing Accident that Left Him Paralyzed

Rene Douglas, a former jockey, is suing Arlington Park, its parent company Churchill Downs Inc., Keeneland Association, and Martin Collins Surfaces and Footings for the catastrophic injuries he sustained during an accident at the horseracing track. Douglas, 43, is now paralyzed.

The tragic Cook County personal injury accident happened on May 23, 2009 when Douglas?s mount, Born to Be, was clipped by another horse, Sky Mom, during a race. Sky Mom?s rider, James Theriot, was suspended for 30 days following the accident.

In his Arlington Heights, Illinois injury complaint, Douglas and his wife Natalia are claiming that the surface of the track had ruts and was ?uneven? and these deficiencies contributed to the catastrophic horse racing accident. The couple is claiming that negligence was involved in the installation and maintenance of the Polytrack. Martin Collins is the manufacturer of the artificial track surface.

The couple is seeking over $50,000 in damages. Prior to the accident, Douglas was the top jockey at the racetrack for six out of the last eight seasons. He was the leading winner when he got hurt.

Also last week, Arlington Park track worker Edward Seely filed his Cook County injury lawsuit against the same defendants over work injuries he sustained during a fall accident in May 2008. Seely, who trained and exercised race horses at the racetrack, claims that his work accident occurred because the track surface was ?filled with ruts? and ?uneven.?

Paralyzed jockey sues Arlington Park over injury, The Daily Herald, May 11, 2010

Douglas Files Suit Over 2009 Accident, Bloodhorse.com, May 14, 2010

Related Web Resources:

Arlington Park

Spinal Cord Injuries, Medline Plus

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