Woman alleges ACL tear after fall from Lindenwood bleacher

A woman has filed suit against Lindenwood College, alleging she suffered a torn ACL after falling on a malfunctioning portion of the school's bleachers.

Tonya Bouckaert and David Bouckaert allege Tonya Bouckaert was watching her daughter play basketball at Lindenwood on Nov. 5, 2013. She was seated in the third row of bleachers and got up to use the restroom before her daughter's game began, according to the complaint filed Oct. 10 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

"As plaintiff stepped down onto the end seat of the last row of bleachers, the seat suddenly swung forward," the suit states. "Plaintiff consequently fell to the floor, hit her shoulder and head on the bleacher railing and injured her left knee. Plaintiff immediately felt pain in her left knee."

Because of the incident, Tonya Bouckaert sustained injuries to her shoulders and head and endured a left knee ACL tear, a left knee medial meniscus tear and a left knee MCL sprain, the complaint says. She also alleges she was forced to undergo a left knee reconstruction surgery, experienced pain, swelling and tightness in her left knee and became limited in her normal everyday activities.

Because of his wife's injuries, David Bouckaert lost her services, society, companionship, care, love, comfort and affection and incurred medical costs, according to the complaint.

The Bouckaerts blame the college for causing Tonya Bouckaert's injuries, saying the school negligently allowed a broken bleacher seat to remain on its premises, allowed her to utilize the bleacher seat, failed to inspect the unsafe condition of the bleachers, failed to repair the condition, failed to warn of the dangerous condition and allowed the bleachers to remain unsafe.

In their complaint, the Bouckaerts seek a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Attorney Amy Collignon Gunn of The Simon Law Firm in St. Louis will represent the plaintiffs.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-688.