Summary Judgment – Regional School District
Attorneys Involved | Kevin R. Kratzer, Ashley A. Noel
The Connecticut Appellate Court upheld the granting of summary judgment on behalf of a regional school district and several school officials represented by Attorneys Kevin R. Kratzer and Ashley A. Noel. Attorneys Kratzer and Noel represented the school district and the school officials at both the trial and appellate court levels.
The minor plaintiff alleged that the coach of the middle school girls’ soccer team kicked a soccer ball that hit her in the face during an indoor soccer practice, causing a traumatic brain injury. She further alleged that school officials, including the principal and superintendent, failed to investigate the incident. The minor plaintiff, through her mother and next best friend, brought an action sounding in assault and battery, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and recklessness against the coach, principal, superintendent, and regional school district. The Judicial District of Hartford entered judgment as a matter of law on behalf of the defendants as to all counts following a motion for summary judgment by Attorneys Kratzer and Noel. Specifically, the Court determined that the defendants were entitled to governmental immunity as to the plaintiff’s negligence claims, and found that the plaintiff was unable to succeed on the remainder of her claims as a matter of law based on the undisputed facts developed throughout the pendency of the case. On appeal, the Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed the decision of the trial court in full.