Batavia youth theater company sued for stage injury
A girl and her parents are suing the Batavia-based Spotlight Theater Company for damages, arguing she was injured while serving as a crew member during the February 2015 production of "Aladdin" at the Batavia High School Fine Arts Center.
The plaintiff, identified only as Janie Doe, seeks more than $50,000 damages in a lawsuit recently filed in Kane County for hitting her head on a spotlight while exiting the stage.
Marion Morawicz, the plaintiff's attorney, argues in the lawsuit that her client was "severely and permanently injured" and suffered "severe and permanent disability and disfigurement" the night of Feb. 21, 2015, when enrolled in the company's classes and working on the theater production.
Morawicz argues the theater company was negligent in protecting the safety of Janie Doe, who was picking up confetti shot from a cannon at the end of Act 1. The 5-foot-8-inch Doe exited the stage near the rear curtains and cracked her head on a light that was only mounted five feet off the ground, according to the lawsuit.
The suit seeks damages under the state's Family Expense Act and is next due in court Nov. 3.
The theater company website says it's a nonprofit organization for kids 5 to 18. A message left at the theater company was not immediately returned.
Morawicz refused comment when reached by phone this week.