LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of five St. Xavier High School students who were injured when a bleacher railing collapsed during celebrations after a regional semifinal soccer game at Waggener High School against Trinity.
At least six people were injured in the Oct. 16 incident.
The day after the incident, St. Xavier said in a statement that several of its students were hurt in the collapse as they celebrated their victory near the student section.
The lawsuit was filed against the bleacher manufacturers, city inspectors, engineers and Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) employees. It claims that their actions were "reckless, grossly negligent, oppressive and/or malicious conduct."
The defendants are seeking punitive and compensatory damages.
According to the lawsuit, the injuries included a fractured pelvis, a fractured elbow, a deep laceration that became infected, a torn labrum and injuries to the head, chest and lower back.
The lawsuit claims that the visitor's bleachers were manufactured by Dant Clayton Corporation "in spite of the fact that, upon information and belief, there were known prior incidents of railing collapses similar to the subject incident at Waggener High School in stadiums that had utilized the same product."
According to the lawsuit, a fence also had not been installed yet around the track and in front of the visitor's bleachers.
Renovations at Waggener’s stadium, including the new bleachers, were completed in September. The upgrades were part of a multimillion-dollar project at several JCPS schools, announced by the district in 2023.
The district said the bleachers were inspected in September by Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations, and were found to be in compliance.
The collapsed railing has since been repaired.
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