Max
08-02-2003, 11:45 AM
CMH student paralyzed in 1996 settles lawsuit
Award amount confidential
but health care could cost $1.9 million
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By JAMES KOGUTKIEWICZ - GM Today Staff
August 2, 2003
JEFFERSON - A woman rendered quadriplegic at a 1996 high school swim meet reached a settlement Thursday with her high school, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and others to pay for her injuries.
Then-Catholic Memorial High School student Angela Kuemmel suffered a spinal cord injury in September 1996 when diving into the pool at New Berlin Eisenhower High School during a swim meet.
A January report shows Kuemmel's health care costs after the injury could exceed $1,900,000 throughout her life, according to records filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court. However, the report notes that "high-end" estimate is based on worst health care scenarios.
The actual amount Kuemmel will receive remains confidential by mutual agreement between all parties, court records show.
A representative for the defendants interviewed Kuemmel for the January report and found her well aware of her health care needs, court records show. The interview also revealed Kuemmel leads an active life as a college student and hopes to earn a psychology doctorate, court records show.
"There is also no reason to believe that Angela Kuemmel cannot work full-time at her chosen profession until into her late 50s or even early 60s if she chooses to do so," the report states.
The suit, filed in 2001, alleged several groups were negligent the day Kuemmel dove from a starting platform and hit her head on the bottom of the pool.
Kuemmel alleged the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association were negligent in operating swimming competition standards.
The lawsuit also alleged Catholic Memorial and the archdiocese were negligent in allowing swimmers to dive from platforms into shallow waters.
Mary Kuemmel, Angela's mother, and Mark Young, their lawyer, declined comment. Patrick Nolan, the lawyer representing Catholic Memorial and the archdiocese, could not be reached for comment.
James Kogutkiewicz can be reached at jkogutkiewicz@conleynet.com.
This story appeared in the Waukesha Freeman on August 2, 2003.
Award amount confidential
but health care could cost $1.9 million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By JAMES KOGUTKIEWICZ - GM Today Staff
August 2, 2003
JEFFERSON - A woman rendered quadriplegic at a 1996 high school swim meet reached a settlement Thursday with her high school, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and others to pay for her injuries.
Then-Catholic Memorial High School student Angela Kuemmel suffered a spinal cord injury in September 1996 when diving into the pool at New Berlin Eisenhower High School during a swim meet.
A January report shows Kuemmel's health care costs after the injury could exceed $1,900,000 throughout her life, according to records filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court. However, the report notes that "high-end" estimate is based on worst health care scenarios.
The actual amount Kuemmel will receive remains confidential by mutual agreement between all parties, court records show.
A representative for the defendants interviewed Kuemmel for the January report and found her well aware of her health care needs, court records show. The interview also revealed Kuemmel leads an active life as a college student and hopes to earn a psychology doctorate, court records show.
"There is also no reason to believe that Angela Kuemmel cannot work full-time at her chosen profession until into her late 50s or even early 60s if she chooses to do so," the report states.
The suit, filed in 2001, alleged several groups were negligent the day Kuemmel dove from a starting platform and hit her head on the bottom of the pool.
Kuemmel alleged the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association were negligent in operating swimming competition standards.
The lawsuit also alleged Catholic Memorial and the archdiocese were negligent in allowing swimmers to dive from platforms into shallow waters.
Mary Kuemmel, Angela's mother, and Mark Young, their lawyer, declined comment. Patrick Nolan, the lawyer representing Catholic Memorial and the archdiocese, could not be reached for comment.
James Kogutkiewicz can be reached at jkogutkiewicz@conleynet.com.
This story appeared in the Waukesha Freeman on August 2, 2003.