NEW ORLEANS – A family is suing a gymnastics center claiming their daughter was told to perform exercises that she was not capable of doing which caused her serious injuries which required surgery.
Kelly Levasseur, wife of and Terry Levasseur, individually and on behalf of their minor child, filed suit against Crescent City Gymnastics, LLC and Markel Insurance Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on May 20.
The suit says that on Oct, 9, 2014, enrolled their daughter in a basic gymnastics class, having had no prior experience in gymnastics or a balance beam. On Oct. 21, 2014 the minor child was attending a gymnastics class and asked to do the hula hoop on the high balance beam, allegedly without first being tested to see whether she was capable of doing the hula hoop on flat ground or lower beams and with no demonstration or spotter during this new activity. The plaintiffs claim their daughter subsequently fell and broke her leg and suffered nerve damage that required emergency transportation to Children's Hospital for surgery.
The defendant is accused of failure to adequately evaluate the plaintiffs' daughter's abilities and limitations, instructing a beginner to attempt a task that was not within her abilities, failure to provide adequate instruction, failure to provide adequate spotting, failure to provide adequate supervision and failure to provide a safe environment for the activity.
Plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount for medical expenses both past and future and on behalf of their daughter for damages as a result of fright, fear, mental anguish, emotional distress and loss of function in her dominant arm.
The plaintiffs are represented by Scott E. Silbet and W. Gregory Merritt of Silbert, Garon, Pitre & Friedman.
This case has been assigned to Div. A Judge Tiffany G. Chase.
Case no. 2015-04137.