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A jury finds the School Board 70 percent liable in a plastic injection molding project that scarred the student's face.
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 11, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- A Pinellas-Pasco Circuit court jury has ordered the Pinellas County School Board to pay more than $87,000 in damages to a St. Petersburg High School student who was burned in December 1998 while working on a graphic arts project in class.
The decision, which came Tuesday night, holds the board 70 percent liable for the injuries sustained by then 15-year-old Eric High during a project that entailed melting plastic for fishing lures and injecting it into molds. High, who suffered a 3-inch by 31/2-inch burn on the left side of his face near his mouth, underwent plastic surgery to correct scarring.
The School Board also has been ordered to pay $2,495 for his medical expenses.
Erin Shimer, an attorney who represented the School Board at the trial, which began Monday, said the board plans to seek post-trial relief, adding "there are a lot of issues that need to be brought up based on the evidence."
Shimer said it has not been decided whether the board will appeal or seek a new trial.
Attorney Ben DeBerg, who represented High, said the jury "did the right thing" and his client was pleased with the verdict.
"The School Board had offered him $500," DeBerg said.