WESTFIELD, Ind. -- A Westfield High School student and her mother filed a lawsuit Thursday against Westfield Washington School Corporation in connection with an April 2015 stage collapse that injured more than a dozen people.
Destiny Chandra Marie Hoffman was one of the performers in a school musical who was hurt when the stage collapsed during the finale.
Nearly 900 people were gathered to watch more than 100 students and staff perform "American Pie."
Many in the crowd were recording the performance on their cell phones and shared what happened when the stage collapsed on social media.
So relieved there were no serious injuries, but what a scary ending! #WHSAmericanPie #Westfield pic.twitter.com/VMsRlBZLDT
— Sara Camden (@saracamden) April 24, 2015
Initially, sources said the stage wasn't "constructed in a way to hold people." The final investigation revealed the original structure of the orchestra pit cover had been removed earlier in 2015 when a school employee and students replaced the cover. The new orchestra pit lid, installed in January, was designed by the school employee, part-time auditorium director Quinton James.
"It was determined that while the result was catastrophic, the failed construction and maintenance did not rise to the level of criminal culpability," said Capt. Charles Hollowell, Westfield Police Department.
The lawsuit says the school corporation didn't properly supervise the employee(s) who built the stage and seeks damages for Destiny's injuries as a result of, "WWSC's negligent behavior and failure to provide a safe environment for the students of WWSC."
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Destiny's mother, Jennifer Hoffman, is also seeking damages for loss of income and mental anguish as a result of her daughter's injuries.
The school corporation released this statement in reaction to the lawsuit:
"Westfield Washington Schools has always placed the highest value on the safety of our students. We are aware of the suit, will review it."
No criminal charges were ever filed in connection with the collapse.
READ THE FULL LAWSUIT BELOW:
