Nebraska School Settles Sledding Accident Lawsuit for $500K

The mother of a girl injured in a 2014 sledding accident at a Nebraska school will get a $500,000 lump-sum payment as part of a settlement with the school district’s insurance company.

The Omaha World Herald reports that Valarie Potter was 14 when she was injured at what used to be known as La Vista Junior High School. She and a friend slid down a hill together and hit a chain-link fence. A lawsuit filed by Valarie’s mother says Valarie’s legs were fractured and an artery in her left knee was torn.

The lawsuit says Papillion-La Vista Community Schools failed to post a sign or otherwise warn people of the danger, despite knowing that people often struck the fence while sledding.

District spokeswoman Annette Eyman says insurance company officials decided to settle the case.