Woman Files Suit Against Daughter's School After Finger Amputated

A woman has filed a personal injury suit against a Catholic school where her daughter’s right ring finger was allegedly amputated after a heavy bathroom door shut on it.

According to the suit filed by Jennifer Olsson in Illinois’ Madison County Circuit Court on February 17, her daughter, Hannah Olsson, was rollerskating while in gym class at defendant SS Peter and Paul Church and School in Collinsville on February 23, 2009 when the incident took place.

While she was rollerskating, Hannah Olsson had to use the bathroom and her teacher allowed to do so with her roller skates still on, according to the suit.

The suit said the door to the restroom was extremely thick, heavy, and made of metal and had a mechanism at the top that would force the door to close immediately after being opened.

According to the suit, as Hannah Olsson was proceeding into the restroom and opened the door, the mechanism caused the door to close, with her right ring finger becoming caught in the door between the door and the hinged side of the door frame, partially amputating the digit.

The suit says that in addition to the injury, Hannah Olsson suffered psychological damage and experienced great pain, suffering, disability, loss of a normal life, and disfigurement. Her mother incurred medical expenses.

The suit alleges negligence on the part of the defendants for failure to supervise Hannah Olsson, failure to properly maintain the metal door, and allowing Hannah Olsson to go to the bathroom while wearing roller skates.

Jennifer Olsson seeks damages in excess of $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just, in the two-count suit.