Lawsuit: Inflatable sumo wrestling led to brain injury at Miami-Dade charter school
By David Ovalle, The Miami Herald | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
But a lawsuit claims the sumo fun went horribly wrong, leaving the teen with severe brain damage after her head repeatedly struck the floor.
The girl, 15-year-old freshman
"The suit is fairly safe. We've never had an injury like this," De La Rosa said. "I really hope she is doing OK."
The Lissabets allege the school and company failed to ensure her helmet fit properly during the event last October. She was later rushed to the hospital after complaining of "blurred vision, dizziness, nausea and headaches," according to to the negligence lawsuit filed by
The once-vibrant ninth-grader can no longer communicate properly and exhibits child-like behavior, Rudzinski said.
"Now, she sits in her room at night, in the darkness and doesn't talk to anyone," he said. "She has severe anxiety. It's a complete 180-degree turn for her and her family. It's really tragic."
Wrestling in inflatable sumo body suits is a party activity loosely fashioned after the ancient Japanese sport in which hefty wrestlers compete to push each other out of a circular ring.
In the American game, the match is conducted on a protective mat ring. But Celaida fell backward, hitting her heard three times against the ground outside the mat, according to her attorneys.
The lawsuit was filed against
A representative for
De La Rosa of Mega Party Events said the company's insurance carrier is exploring whether the girl had suffered the head injury prior to the October event.
It's not the first lawsuit involving the inflatable sumo game.
The most prominent: In 2007,
___
(c)2014 The Miami Herald
Visit The Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 444 |
Boston Herald Kimberly Atkins column
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News