Lawsuit against Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative settles

A lawsuit against Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative filed in March by the mother of a minor boy has settled.

Dona Walker had claimed her son, Douglas Walker III, was utilizing a hammock at the school on March 29, 2012, when a rope on the hammock broke, allowing the boy to fall to the floor.

St. Clair County Circuit Judge Andrew Gleeson dismissed the case with prejudice and closed the file on May 2 – less than two months after it was initially filed.

Dona Walker blamed the school for causing her son’s injuries, saying it negligently failed to maintain its equipment in proper working order, failed to inspect its equipment to make sure it was safe and allowed Douglas Walker III to use defective equipment.

She sought a judgment of more than $50,000 and punitive damages of more than $50,000, plus costs.

Daniel K. Juncker of Belleville represented Walker.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-134.