Facts: An 8th grade student injured her leg during recess on a school playground when she ran into a steel post. The family sued the school and the New Haven Board of Education alleging failure to supervise the student, failure to inspect the school premises and failure to warn of a dangerous condition on the school playground.

Injuries: The child’s leg required 15 stitches. She eventually underwent plastic surgery to remove a 5 inch scar on her leg.

Defense: The defendants claimed governmental immunity. They also claimed that the child’s own negligence contributed to her injuries.

Verdict: In this playground accident, the judge found in the child’s favor. The school had a duty to the child, a student, to maintain the school grounds and keep the grounds safe. In addition, children are held to a lower standard than that of adult, when assessing a claim that a child was negligent. The act of a child running on a playground is not unreasonable or unforeseeable behavior.

Award: $9,000 for medical bills and $67,484 for pain and suffering. Total award was $76,484.

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