Student slipped while running to school office
A former Whitehorse student is suing the Yukon government and the Department of Education claiming negligence after a fall at school caused her head and neck injuries.
A former Whitehorse student is suing the Yukon government and the Department of Education claiming negligence after a fall at school caused her head and neck injuries.
The lawsuit was filed last week in Yukon Supreme Court by Alex Furlong on behalf of 16-year-old Kaitlin Furlong.
On Nov. 24, 2010 the teen was a Grade 8 student at the Wood Street Centre, owned and operated by the Yukon government.
That year, the school engaged students in a learning game dubbed "Word of the Day”, the lawsuit says.
Students were encouraged to guess words using clues given to them by school staff.
"Students were in competition with one another to see who could figure out the word first,” court documents say. "The first student to figure out the word of the day and write it down in the office won.”
Believing she had guessed the word that day in November 2010, Kaitlin Furlong was running to the office when she slipped and fell.
The school's office is located near the entrance, and in winter months, snow is tracked inside and melts outside the office, documents say.
The lawsuit claims Kaitlin Furlong suffered serious personal injury, including post-concussive syndrome and traumatic brain injury.
She has acute pain in her jaw and neck, chronic daily headaches and chronic episodes of dizziness and nausea.
The teen has also suffered from episodes of depression, a decreased ability to concentrate on academics and post traumatic stress.
"YTG was aware, or ought to have been aware, of the likelihood of the floor being slippery in the place where Kaitlin fell,” the documents say.
The lawsuit claims the fall was caused by negligence.
It alleges the school failed to remove the melted snow from the floor "or take any action to reduce the danger posed by the wet floor or to provide adequate or any warning of the danger posed by the wet floor.”
The government has yet to file any documents in its defence.
The family wants the government to pay medical costs as well as other damages. No specific dollar amount is mentioned in the documents.
The two sides will next meet for a case management conference in August.
The family now lives in Regina.
In the territory, Alex Furlong had a public profile as the president of the Yukon Federation of Labour.
Comments (18)
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Sharon Cooper on Jul 5, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Obviously someone has been watching too many American TV court shows. It's not always someone else's fault.
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Jackie Ward on Jul 4, 2012 at 8:49 am
Sounds like a case for Judge Judy, lol.
With a follow up from Dr. Phil.
Then Hoarders.
Maybe Storage Wars, lol.
Final with Jerry Springer.
"JERRY" "JERRY" "JERRY"
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Bumpy head on Jul 4, 2012 at 1:07 am
So back in Grade five our class was playing a running game outside, I ran into a tree and was taken to the hospital they put a ice pack on my head and sent me home. Twenty years later I still have a large bump on my head from this accident of playing a running game at school. I guess I missed out on the gravy boat hey! If every child sued the schools for simple accidents, we would not have any schools to attend! Dang, I guess I should have sued, might have paid for my college education!
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Guncache on Jul 2, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I had a nice comment on this subject but apparently it offended the person who scrutinizes the input. People slip every day because of their own carelessness. Suing in this case is senseless and looks like a fast way to make a buck at taxpayers expense.
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north_of_60 on Jun 30, 2012 at 10:00 am
"Why has the family chosen to sue"
"In the territory, Alex Furlong had a public profile as the president of the Yukon Federation of Labour. "
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Yukoner55 on Jun 29, 2012 at 4:34 pm
The department of education should be, under no circumstances held responsible for the unsafe actions of one student after a single accident. Winter brings snow. Snow melts. A school that participates in outdoor activities will of course have snow being tracked inside but then again so do most buildings. Why has the family chosen to sue after moving? Are they afraid to stand in front of the families of children who love the school to declare they are entitled to money because of an accident that was caused by the actions of a child?
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Anon on Jun 29, 2012 at 3:12 am
If I knew years ago when I was in school that you could sue the government for negligence from a fall I would have every time that I wasn't paying attention, was clumsy, ran in the hall, or just in general being an awkward teen I would have.
This case is ridiculous. If you were to sue every time you fell somewhere in the winter then companies, cities, people would be broke. I have 2 words: COMMON SENSE.
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Northone on Jun 28, 2012 at 9:30 am
Suing for slipping and falling in a school hallway? What a joke, that this sort of frivolous case will even be heard is pathetic.
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zizzy on Jun 28, 2012 at 8:26 am
I guess wait for the facts and see if they encouraged the students to run in the hallways, especially an alleged icy part.
As of right now I can't say I agree with the case that's been made, seems a shame to sue the school that so many young kids enjoy very much. And did they decide to do this after moving for Regina?
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Those that can, do. on Jun 27, 2012 at 3:33 pm
"Most schools discourage students from running in the halls because such accidents can happen. I doubt the Wood Street School is any different."
Just exactly how does a rule that favours and rewards the first student to travel to the office assist in discouraging students from running in the halls?
School teachers and administrators need to be held to a far higher standard than children.
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Anonymous on Jun 27, 2012 at 8:58 am
Well at least she'll get to new termonology to her vocabulary with this lawsuit... Contributory Negligence.
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Clive Jack on Jun 27, 2012 at 7:49 am
Unless some other children were injured on the same day and spot, the area does not seem any more unsafe than normal.
Instead of calling it an accident, the family is suing for money.
While I sympathize with the child's pain (but really, how fast was she running??) there does not appear to be any negligence.
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Every teacher I have ever had on Jun 26, 2012 at 9:38 am
Gr.1- No running in the halls.
Gr.2- No running in the halls.
Gr.3- No running in the halls.
Gr.4- No running in the halls.
Gr.5- No running in the halls.
Gr.6- No running in the halls.
Gr.7- No running in the halls.
Gr.8- No running in the halls.
What part was unclear?
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north_of_60 on Jun 26, 2012 at 9:15 am
The student's enthusiasm to 'win' some contest did not justify running in the halls. Anyone who has been to school knows running isn't allowed.
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Paws on Jun 26, 2012 at 8:46 am
This is where a little thing called "personal responsibility" comes into play. By the time a kid hits grade 8 (ie. 14 years old) they have probably been told 50 times not to run in the halls at school, just for this reason. Fact is that kids have accidents......
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Patrick on Jun 26, 2012 at 8:05 am
Teachers do not condone running in schools thus this student is responsible for her own injury.
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Dan Davidson on Jun 26, 2012 at 8:04 am
Most schools discourage students from running in the halls because such accidents can happen. I doubt the Wood Street School is any different.
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Cathy on Jun 26, 2012 at 7:53 am
My daughter attended this school, loved everything about and graduated with honors. There were numerous activities that she took part in both inside and out the school, if she was injured at any time she never told me. People including school students have to be aware of their surroundings and use caution if they see an unsafe condition. If I'm running into an area that I know is full of snow and ice, it is my responsibility to slow down and be careful. this is called common sense.