A former middle school basketball player has filed a civil lawsuit against the Orange County School Board, Orange County and several employees alleging negligence which resulted in injury.
The minor, by way of her mother Jamie Latino, filed the suit last week in Orange County Circuit Court. According to the filing, the minor was a member of the girls’ basketball team at Locust Grove Middle School when she slipped and fell in the gym due to water on the court. The suit alleges school officials knew there was a recurring and ongoing problem with water and wet spots accumulating on the basketball court floor due to dripping pipes in the ceiling.
“The defendants knew about the danger, ignored the harm to the student athletes and did nothing to make the LGMS basketball court safer,” the suit states.
The suit includes an email dated Aug. 29, 2024 in which school officials discussed the pipe issues. Middle school basketball coach Rebecca Harvey sent the email, stating there was a “good foot of water in about six different spots on the floor” and said a player had slipped and rolled her ankle due to the issue. She asked if anything might be done to correct the problem. Then principal Nick Sodano responded that he would enter a work order on the matter. Director of facilities and maintenance Marshall Rutter was included in the email.
The lawsuit includes three counts–negligence and gross negligence of the school board and county; negligence and gross negligence of Sodano, Harvey, Rutter and teacher Austin Henderson who served as the athletic director for the school; and the creation of a nuisance on school property. The suit alleges that the victim suffered and will suffer and has incurred and will incur “severe, serious and debilitating physical injuries and effects on her health; physical pain and mental anguish; disfigurement and deformity and associated humiliation and embarrassment; inconvenience; expenses for medical care and treatment and related expenses; and loss of earnings and/or lessening of earning capacity.” It does not elaborate on the specific injuries that occured.
The suit seeks $500,000 plus interest from Sept. 18, 2024 and court costs. A trial by jury is demanded. The defendant and her mother are represented by personal injury attorney Bryan Meadows of Marks & Harrison.
The school system declined to comment on the litigation, noting as a matter of practice it does not comment on pending legal matters or ongoing litigation and will respond through the appropriate legal process.
