15-year-old cut hand on backboard at Catholic church, suit says

CHARLESTON - A mother is suing Holy Trinity Catholic Church for her son's injuries he allegedly sustained while playing basketball on its premises.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston was also named as a defendant in the suit.

On July 20, 2012, Brandon Williams, who was then 15 years old, was playing basketball on the defendant's premises when he caught his right hand in a hole in the fiberglass backboard and suffered a severe laceration in his right hand, according to a complaint filed Oct. 3 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Lisa Williams, the mother of Brandon Williams, claims her son had played basketball on the church's premises for several years and on June 29, 2012, during the derecho, the basketball hoop was knocked over and into a fence post, causing the hole to open up in the fiberglass backboard.

Brandon Williams' extensor tendon was torn and he suffers from permanent impairments in the ability to use his right thumb as a result of the injuries sustained, according to the suit.

Lisa Williams claims the defendants knew or should have known that neighborhood children had returned to playing basketball on its premises and had returned the hoop to its prior position after the derecho and knew or should have known that the fiberglass backboard had been broken in the derecho.

The defendants' negligence caused Brandon Williams to suffer limited use of his right hand and right thumb; incur medical expenses; pain and suffering; and Lisa Williams' loss of parental consortium, according to the suit.

Lisa Williams is seeking compensatory damages with pre-judgment interest. She is being represented by Alex McLaughlin and Benjamin D. Adams of the Calwell Practice LC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-1868