A student says his school should pay for the injury he sustained when 140 pounds of weight plates fell on his hand. Why the court says he might be right.

Michael Beglin, a student at Hartwick College, was working out with a friend at the school’s fitness center when the weight plates on a machine became jammed. While Beglin was trying to fix the machine, the weight plates became dislodged and fell onto his hand.

When Beglin sued, the school produced testimony from the center’s supervisor and athletic trainer. Both denied knowledge of any prior problems with the machine.

But when the school tried to have the case thrown out, it failed. Why? Because Beglin produced a witness – the fitness center custodian – who said the plates on the machine could jam easily. Even worse for the school: The custodian also said jamming was a recurring problem on the machine involved and that he’d told the trainer about it.

That meant the case had to be decided by a fact finder.

Cite: Beglin v. Hartwick College.

Should this case have been dismissed? Please share your views in the comments section below.

Tags: fitness centers, Hartwick College, weight rooms