Injured girl’s parents sue Portage schools over accident

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Updated: February 19, 2012 8:17AM

PORTAGE — The parents of a student who fell into and through a high school trophy case are suing Portage Township Schools and the family of the boy who pushed her.

According to the suit filed Jan. 13, the incident happened in January 2010 during normal school hours.

The attorney for the family, Christopher Grabarek, said the incident doesn’t appear to have been a bullying incident.

It looked like horseplay between the girl, Kendra Wagner, and a boy she knew, Leonard White, got out of hand.

He either bumped or shoved her, causing her to lose her balance and go through the glass display case, the suit states.

The girl has scarring from the incident, but Grabarek was unsure whether there was nerve damage.

The suit states the school and school corporation were negligent for failing to monitor and supervise the student on premises and for not taking reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the students and that they don’t harm each other.

It asks for compensation of “substantial medical expenses,” suffered pain and emotional stress.

Phone messages left with Superintendent Michael Berta’s office were not returned by the end of the day Tuesday.