Downers Grove family files lawsuit in drowning of 4-year-old girl

The family of Anna Trent, a 4-year-old drowning victim from Downers Grove, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in DuPage County against the Downers Grove Swim & Racquet Club.

The 12-page lawsuit filed Monday states that the private club's negligence in guarding and responding to swimmers in its pool caused Anna's death June 19.

The club has a legal obligation to train lifeguards to know how to prevent drowning and appropriately respond to a drowning victim, family attorney Mark McNabola said in a written statement. "This tragedy would not have occurred if lifeguards simply followed safety rules and were properly supervised. To make matters worse, they did not use proper resuscitation techniques or equipment that was at the pool."

Club officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The suit states that Anna was at the pool with her parents and two siblings celebrating Father's Day. Anna was in the upper pool playing in about 2 feet of water near the mushroom fountain when she drifted into deeper water.

The suit states that there were four lifeguards on duty with unobstructed views of the pool at the time.

When the lifeguards saw Anna face down and floating in water over her head, they did not respond appropriately, according to the suit. They also did not properly perform CPR, nor did they provide oxygen tanks or other apparatus to provide oxygen or produce an automatic defibrillator to resuscitate the girl, the suit states.

Anna's father and aunt had to perform CPR, the suit states.

"This lawsuit is about a private club and its insurance company," McNabola said. "The Trent family is grateful for the enormous outpouring of love they have received from the Downers Grove community. They want to make sure proper safeguards are in place at the pool so no other family has to suffer a similar, devastating tragedy."

The suit also seeks a judgment "far in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limit of $50,000."

The case is next due in court for status updates June 26 and Sept. 12.