Murray v. Chicago Youth Center

CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedApril 16, 2004
Docket1-02-3615 Rel
StatusPublished

This text of Murray v. Chicago Youth Center (Murray v. Chicago Youth Center) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Murray v. Chicago Youth Center, (Ill. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

RYAN MURRAY and JOYCE MAYERS, ) Appeal from the

) Circuit Court of

Plaintiffs-Appellants, ) Cook County.

)

  1. )

CHICAGO YOUTH CENTER, )

a Corporation; JAMES COLLINS; ) No. 98 L 5822

CHICAGO BOARD OF EDUCATION, )

a School Board; and SPORTS SUPPLY  )

GROUP, a Corporation,         ) Honorable

) Martin S. Agran,

Defendants-Appellees. ) Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE REID delivered the opinion of the court:

The trial court granted the defendants, James Collins, Chicago Youth Center (CYC), Chicago Board of Education (the Board) and Sports Supply Group (SSG) (footnote: 1), summary judgment.  On appeal, the plaintiffs, Ryan Murray and Joyce Mayers, argue that: (1) the trial court erroneously determined that Collins, CYC and the Board were afforded immunity under sections 2-201 and 3-108(a) of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (the Act)(745 ILCS 10/2-201; 3-108(a)(West 1992)) and (2) the trial court erred when it granted summary judgment to SSG because the risks of a spinal cord injury from using a mini-trampoline are not open and obvious and the warnings affixed to the mini-trampoline were inadequate.  For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decisions of the trial court.

BACKGROUND

Bryn Mawr elementary school (Bryn Mawr) is public school that is operated by the Board and located on Chicago's southeast side.  In response to community needs, the Board organized a gang and drug prevention program at Bryn Mawr.  As part of the program, an after-school tumbling program was started.  When the gang and drug prevention program ended in 1989, Bryn Mawr decided to continue the tumbling aspect of the program.

During the 1990-91 school year, the tumbling program was held after school and was supervised by Steve Yergovich, who was a physical education instructor at Bryn Mawr.  Sometime in 1991, the Board purchased two mini-trampolines for Bryn Mawr, which the school received in November or December of that year.  At the end of 1991, Bryn Mawr discontinued the after-school tumbling program.

In early 1992, Robert Lewis, the assistant principal at Bryn Mawr, spoke with an administrator of CYC.  The two discussed the availability of an employee from CYC to run a tumbling program during school hours.  Consequently, Collins, who was an employee of the CYC, became the supervisor of the new tumbling program at Bryn Mawr.

The tumbling program at Bryn Mawr was an extracurricular activity.  Students who elected to participate had to go through a tryout with Collins.  The students attended the tumbling program two days a week and each session lasted approximately 50 minutes.

On December 14, 1992, Ryan, who was an eighth-grade student at Bryn Mawr, sustained injuries resulting in quadriplegia while using a mini-trampoline during his regularly scheduled tumbling class at the school.  Collins was present and supervising the tumbling class when the accident occurred.

On the day in question, Murray performed several basic tumbling maneuvers during the more structured portion of the class.  Afterwards, while participating in the freelance portion of the class, Murray lined up to use one of the mini-trampolines.  He subsequently performed a jump off the mini-trampoline without incident.

However, Murray then took a running approach toward the mini-trampoline and from approximately six yards away bounced off the mini-trampoline, flipped twice in the air and landed on his chest in sort of a "belly flop."  Murray landed approximately 10 to 15 feet away from the mini-trampoline.  This fall caused his injuries.  At the time, Murray was not using any safety equipment and there was no spotter present to assist him.

The mini-trampoline that was used when Murray was injured was distributed by the defendant SSG.  Affixed on the front of the mini-trampoline is a red and white warning label.  On the label in bold block letters appears the word "CAUTION," followed by this statement:

"Any activity involving motion or height creates the possibility of accidental injuries.  This equipment is intended for use ONLY by properly trained and qualified participants under supervised conditions.  Use without proper supervision, or abuse, could be DANGEROUS and should NOT be undertaken or permitted.  

Before using, KNOW YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS and the limitations of this equipment.  If in doubt, always consult your instructor.

Always inspect for loose fittings or damage and test stability before each use."

On May 19, 1998, the plaintiffs filed their initial suit.  Thereafter, on July 19, 1999, the plaintiffs filed an 11-count second amended complaint on behalf of Ryan Murray for his personal injuries and on behalf of Joyce Mayers under the Rights of Married Persons Act (750 ILCS 65/15 (West 1992)).  In their second amended complaint, the plaintiffs alleged that Collins and the CYC were willful and wanton in that they knowingly and intentionally or with reckless disregard acted in one or more of the following respects:

"a. Knowing trampolining was a hazardous recreational activity, failed to supply appropriate safety and protective equipment, including a harness, safety belt, and adequate landing mats to Ryan Murray when defendants knew or should have known participation in this activity created a substantial risk of spinal cord injury to any participant;

b. Failed to provide any instruction to Ryan Murray on how to perform a maneuver involving a somersault off of the trampoline before allowing him to perform a maneuver involving a somersault;

c. Failed to instruct Ryan Murray that he could not perform a maneuver involving a somersault without a spotter;

d. Allowed Ryan Murray to perform a somersault off the trampoline without a spotter;

e. Failed to evaluate Ryan Murray's individual ability, with reference to perform[ing] a maneuver involving a somersault, before allowing him to use a mini-trampoline to perform a somersault;

f. Did not guard Ryan Murray in any way from the danger of spinal cord injury while on the trampoline performing a somersault without a spotter when defendants knew or should have known of the substantial risk of harm created by allowing Ryan Murray to participate in this hazardous recreational activity;

g. Did not warn Ryan Murray of the danger of spinal cord injury or quadriplegia as he performed a somersault without a spotter on a mini-trampoline when defendants knew or should have known of the substantial risk of harm it created by allowing Ryan Murray to participate in this hazardous recreational activity;

h. Failed to guard Ryan Murray from the danger of spinal cord injury while using a trampoline to perform a somersault without proper protective gear, including a harness, safety belt, and adequate landing mats, when defendants knew or should have known of the substantial risk of harm it created by allowing Ryan Murray to participate in this hazardous recreational activity;

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Murray v. Chicago Youth Center, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/murray-v-chicago-youth-center-illappct-2004.