Collinsville Catholic church and school sued over girl's finger injury

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

Jennifer Olsson claims her daughter, Hannah Olsson, was rollerskating while in gym class at defendant SS Peter and Paul Church and School in Collinsville on Feb. 23, 2009, when the incident occurred.

While rollerskating, Hannah Olsson had to go to the bathroom, and her teacher allowed her to go with her roller skates still on, according to the complaint filed Feb. 17 in Madison County Circuit Court.

"The restroom door was an extremely thick, heavy metal door," the suit states. "The door had a mechanism at the top that would force the door to close immediately after it was opened.

"As Hannah Olsson proceeded into restroom and opened the door, at the same time the door mechanism allowed the door to close immediately after it was opened. Hannah Olsson's right ring finger became caught in the door between the heavy door and the hinged side of the door frame and her right ring finger was partially amputated."

In addition to her injury, Hannah Olsson suffered damage to her psyche and experienced great pain, suffering, disability, loss of a normal life and disfigurement, the complaint says.

Jennifer Olsson incurred medical costs due to her child's injury, she claims.

Defendants SS Peter and Paul Church and School and Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois negligently failed to supervise Hannah Olsson, failed to properly maintain the metal door and allowed Hannah Olsson to go to the bathroom wearing roller skates, according to the complaint.

In her two-count complaint, Jennifer Olsson is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

Mary M. Stewart of Brunton Law Offices in Collinsville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-162.