Family Of 8-Year-Old Fall Victim Receives $3.45M From West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The Town of West Hartford has agreed to pay the family of an 8-year-old girl badly hurt after falling in an elementary school gym class $3.45 million, according to a legal settlement approved by town officials.

The girl suffered severe, debilitating head injuries as a result of the January 2017 incident at Wolcott Elementary School.

The West Hartford Town Council March 9 voted unanimously to settle the lawsuit, which dates back to Oct. 25, 2017 and was filed by Sheree Shields Farrell and Brian Farrell for their daughter.

West Hartford Corporation Council Dallas Dodge said the funding will come from the town's liability insurance provider.

He emphasized at the council meeting settling the litigation, which dragged through the courts for several years, doesn't mean the town is admitting guilt.

"I do want to emphasize that the settlement does not represent an admission of fault or liability by the town," Dodge said. "I would note that we did discuss the merits of the case during the executive session and I would recommend adoption."

By settling the multi-million lawsuit, the town and the Farrells avoid a civil trial that was slated to have jury selection later this month and go to trial next month.

The Farrells were suing the West Hartford Board of Education and the Town of West Hartford regarding the incident, in which their daughter fell in gym class onto what was a slippery gymnasium floor, according to court papers.

According to the lawsuit, the Farrells charged the school system with improperly maintaining the gymnasium floor at Wolcott.

As a result of her gym class fall, the Farrells' daughter, according to the suit, suffered a head injury, traumatic brain injury and related symptoms associated with that.

After being filed on Oct. 25, 2017, the lawsuit worked its way through the courts with a series of motions and counter-motions over the next six years.

The lawsuit was about to go to a jury trial, with jury selection slated for May 23 and the court proceedings beginning June 6.

With the settlement, the town and the Farrells no longer have to prepare for a civil court trial.

For the minutes of the March 9 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For the lawsuit's document filed in state superior court, click on this link.