High School Mishap Results In A Lawsuit

By Andrew Gorosko

A local woman has filed a lawsuit in Danbury Superior Court seeking damages greater than $15,000 as a result of injuries she suffered when she was struck in the face in 1997 by a golf club swung by another student at Newtown High School.

In the lawsuit, Amanda Morici of 3 Red River Lane sues the Board of Education, the town, and the student who swung the golf club, Gregory Williams of 92 Head O’ Meadow Road. Ms Morici also sues Gregory’s parents, Martin and Michelline of the same address.

 According to the lawsuit, on November 26, 1997, Amanda Morici was an 11th grade student at the high school who was waiting in the school gym to be dismissed from class. Gregory Williams also was waiting to be dismissed from class, according to the suit.

Three teachers, Amy Gagnon, James Casagrande and Daniel Winsett, also were in the gym at the time and were responsible for supervising the students there, it adds.

The lawsuit adds that Williams swung a golf club belonging to one of the gym teachers and hit Ms Morici in the face, causing significant injuries to her.

“Amanda Morici’s injuries occurred as a result of the negligence and carelessness of Amy Gagnon, James Casagrande and Daniel Winsett in that each of these teachers had a duty to supervise the students in the Newtown High School gym… and failed to do so,” the suit states.

As a result of the golf club striking her face, Ms Morici suffered severe and painful injuries including broken bones, bruised nerves, a cut, a scar, eye damage, a permanently dilated eye pupil, plus an increased risk of glaucoma and headaches, according to the lawsuit.

The injuries resulted in Ms Morici suffering emotional distress, the suit states.

The suit alleges that the school board is responsible for the teachers’ negligence in allowing the accident to occur. Ms Morici’s injuries may result in her incurring expenses in the future for medical care, it adds.

The suit states that Gregory Williams was negligent and careless when he swung a golf club in a room full of students waiting for dismissal from class. It adds that his parents are liable for their son’s actions.

The law firm Tierney, Zullo, Flaherty and Murphy, PC, of Norwalk represents Ms Morici.

The town has a November 2 answer date in Danbury Superior Court.