Cheerleader sues school after tragic injury
January 2, 2010 by Taylor HanniganPosted in: From the Courts, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
A cheerleader was rendered a paraplegic when a maneuver went terribly wrong. But was the school at fault?
Angela Crace was the captain of Kent State University’s cheerleading team. In February 2001, her coach assigned her and other team members to positions in a maneuver called the Big K.
The maneuver essentially called for team members to form a human pyramid. At the time, some team members had performed it successfully but others had not even seen it before.
Twice, the stunt failed but a spotter caught Crace. On a third attempt, the stunt went horribly wrong when a substitute spotter failed to catch her and she fell to the ground from a height of about 15 feet. She suffered catastrophic injuries, including paraplegia.
Crace sued the university, claiming the cheerleading coach negligently caused her injuries.
The court rejected her claim. It said suffering an injury due to a fall is an inherent risk of cheerleading, and that Crace voluntarily assumed that risk. The coach did not act intentionally or recklessly in causing the injury, the court added.
Cite: Crace v. Kent State Univ.
Did the court get it right? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
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January 7th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Though this was a tragic accident, I agree with the ruling that the coach and the school should not be held accountable. What happened was not intentional. Had the court found in favor of the student I think instructors in general would think twice about involving students in any university activity for fear of being held accountable if something unintentionally happened to the student. As it is right now, if I want my students to go on a field trip, they have to sign a waiver saying they will not hold me or the school responsible if something happens.
January 8th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Crace was not cheerleadering in her backyard, but on the Kent State University ground and her school bears responsibility for the accident. The school should, by default, insure members of a team which performs stunts. Cruce was at the beginning of her adult and professional life and there is no right to treat her as a disposable person.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:22 am
I think the decision was totally unjust! Is this how a star (male) quarterback would have been treated? I think not. He would be wheeled out onto the field for encouragement for his recovery, and most certainly he would be compensated for the loss of mobility and for future earning potential. Miss Crace will have medicial costs for the rest of her life, in addition to the medical fees she has already accrued. Let alone that this young fibrant brave special woman has had her future altered FOREVER. Kent State should be ashamed of themselves, and should do everything they can to try to equalize this catastrophe somewhat. I hold the reporters of local news organizations resposible for not taking up Miss Crace’s cause, along with the women’s athletic organizations that should have been supporting Miss Crace. Where are the National Organization of Women local groups? This is a sexist decision, besides an immoral one.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:43 am
Hey Laura, Maybe Angela should ride her wheelchair over to MacDonalds and spill some coffee in her lapp. That would be worth 65 million but Kent State offered her 25 thousand for her injury
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 am
Basic safety is these sort of an important issue that it’s consistently a enjoyment to see these sort of remarkable initiatives set forth to promote basic safety.
May 14th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I disagree with the court’s decision. The coach acted negligently and even perhaps recklessly. There is evidence the substituted spotter told the coach he was unfomfortable doing the Big K. The coach ignored him and Angela is paralyzed because of it. Sure there are inherit risks in any sport and those risks are assumed by the participants. Schools and coaches should not be held accountable when an accident occurs in the normal course of a sport, but this situation is deffenent. This coach put in a unprepared participant (after the manuevar already failed twice). some of the participants said they had never even done the manuevar before, a manuevar the NCAA rated as the riskiest it allows. His actions went beyond the normal forseeable risks involved with participating in this sport.
July 27th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Injury is a risk that those participating should be well aware of. Personally, I have gotten injured playing both hockey and lacrosse my entire life, including NCAA. So if cheerleading has some sort of special insurance policy, maybe it should be reconsidered. Makes reading the article on this site about cheerleading being a sport very interesting. My injuries have had a great impact on my life and what I can do, but I took those risks when I decided to play sports. Maybe the stunt they performed wasn’t perfect and the outcome was uncertain, but look at every other sport. Do you think a hockey player knows exactly when a hit is coming that could end his/her career? That is the excitement of sports. However, unfortunate events do occur, but it is again a risk taken.