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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Girl sues Wayne school board for fire drill injury

Spring Valley High School is located in Huntington.

WAYNE - A Wayne County girl who was injured when she was forced to go down stairs on crutches during a fire drill at her school has filed a suit against the county board of education.

Kayla Adkins, with her parents James and Marlaine Adkins, filed the suit in Wayne Circuit Court against the Wayne County Board of Education.

Kayla Adkins was a student at Spring Valley High School in 2005 when she was required to use crutches and a leg brace due to an injury.

On Nov. 2, 2005, there was a fire alarm while Adkins was attending class on the second floor. She claims the school did not have an evacuation plan that would allow her to safely exit the building.

"Kayla Adkins advised a teacher that she was not able to negotiate the stairs due to her injury and restrictions," the suit says. "The teacher told Kayla Adkins that she had to negotiate the stairs, in spite of Kayla Adkins physical inability to do so. The teacher did not seek any assistance or alternative means of exit for Kayla Adkins."

While attempting to go down the stairs, Adkins suffered an injury to her knee, which required surgery and physical therapy.

Adkins claims the school refused to make any accommodation for her when she had physical restrictions, including harassing her for using the elevator, making her parents responsible for transportation arrangements and other acts of discrimination.

In the six-count suit, Kayla Adkins and her parents seeks damages for medical bills, mental and physical pain and suffering and court fees.

Attorney Amy C. Crossan is representing Adkins. The case has been assigned to Judge Darrell Pratt.

Wayne Circuit Court case number 07-C-287

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