Schools

Former Coginchaug Student Suing School District Over Injuries

Lawsuit alleges that school officials were negligent and careless with equipment that injured student.

A former Coginchaug High School student-athlete has filed a lawsuit against the school district.

In the lawsuit filed on April 12 against Regional School District 13 and the Board of Education, Taylor DelVecchio claims the school district was both negligent and careless in its handling of a piece of sporting equipment that DelVecchio and other student-athletes used.

According to the complaint, on March 31, 2011, DelVecchio, of Middlefield, was participating in softball practice in the high school's gymnasium when a portable pitching mound "suddenly fell over and struck her."

The lawsuit alleges that school officials had previously been warned that the equipment was dangerous and had, on another occasion, fallen and nearly struck several other players.

DelVecchio, the lawsuit says, suffered an injury to her heel which required medical treatment including x-rays, surgeries and physical therapy. She also suffered "shock to her entire nervous system, some, or all of which injuries are, or are likely to be, of a permanent nature."

The lawsuit, which also names the towns of Middlefield and Durham as defendants, seeks damages in excess of $15,000.

DelVecchio's lawyer did not want to comment on the case. A lawyer for the school district could not be immediately reached Tuesday.


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