Chicago Public School and Chicago Youth Centers Settle After Determing Actions Were Willful and Wanton

In 1992, an 8th grader at a Chicago Public School broke his neck after hitting his head on a mat while attempting a flip. The incident occurred during an extracurricular lunch activity run by an employee of the Chicago Youth Centers at a Chicago Public School that owned the trampoline.

Ten years after the accident, a Cook County Circuit Court Judge granted summary judgment for the defendants. The judge agreed with the defense argument that absolute immunity applied under the Tort Immunity Act.

The Tort Immunity Act is to ensure that public entities and employees are not liable to pay damages to an injured third party. According to the Tort Immunity Act, public entities, such as Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Youth Centers, and public employees, such as the Chicago Youth Centers' employee in charge of the extracurricular activity, are not liable for the actions and indiscretions of others. However, if a public employee's actions or lack thereof constitutes willful and wanton conduct, the employee is liable for the injured third party.