WHEELING – A mother is suing Ohio County Schools after she claims it failed to watch her adopted son at an end-of-the-year pool party wherein he drowned.
Wheeling Park Commission was also named as a defendant in the suit.
On June 2, 2015, Zyayre Morrison was an eighth grade special needs student at Wheeling Middle School and was lawfully present at Wheeling Park’s premises for the purposes of an end-of-the-year swimming party, according to a complaint filed June 1 in Ohio Circuit Court.
Patricia Morrison claims the defendants failed to warn Zyayre Morrison of the dangers that existed in the swimming pool that was not properly roped off from the shallow to deep ends and failed to prohibit him from entering the deep end of the swimming pool, knowing he was a special needs student and a non-swimmer.
The defendants violated their own policies, procedures and protocol for an off-campus event and violated industry standards for the procedure and protocol for an off-campus event, according to the suit.
Patricia Morrison claims the defendants negligent failure to exercise ordinary and reasonable care for Zyayre Morrison directly and proximately caused him to drown in the swimming pool and suffer severe and permanent injuries, damages and losses.
As a direct and proximate result of the negligent acts and/or omissions of the defendants suffers injuries, damages and losses, according to the suit.
Patricia Morrison is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Ronald W. Zavolta and Jordan M. Laird of Zavolta Law Office.
Ohio Circuit Court case number: 17-C-166