A former USC business student is suing the university, claiming that she sustained severe injuries while participating in a trapeze exercise as part of an elective course for her MBA degree.
Jill Johnson has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, naming both USC and the Santa Monica Trapeze School LLC as defendants. The complaint alleges premises liability, negligence, and negligent hiring, retention, training, and supervision. Johnson is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit, which was filed on October 10th.
In response to the lawsuit, a USC spokeswoman issued a statement on Monday saying, “We are aware of the lawsuit and will review it in detail.”
According to the lawsuit, Johnson was a student at the USC Marshall School of Business, enrolled in an MBA program. As part of her course requirements, she had to select elective units and chose a course called “Fostering Creativity.” The professor included a trapeze lesson as part of the curriculum to help students overcome their fears and discover their limits.
The lawsuit claims that the professor did not mention that the trapeze lesson was optional nor provide any alternative activities for students to complete.
Johnson expressed concerns about the weight limit set by the school and her ability to participate. However, the professor reassured her by saying, “You are in great shape, and the weight will not be an issue,” according to the lawsuit. Despite knowing that Johnson exceeded the weight limit of 205 pounds, the professor encouraged her to participate.
In March, Johnson and her classmates visited the trapeze school for the group lesson. They were told that they would wear harnesses attached to ropes, and the instructor would guide the ropes to ensure their safe landing in the net, as per the lawsuit.
During the first exercise, the students were instructed to hang upside down by their knees. The instructors only demonstrated the exercise on the ground, using a wooden dowel for practice, instead of on the trapeze, states Johnson’s complaint. Since Johnson couldn’t complete the exercise on the ground, she was taught a modified version where she would hang off the trapeze by her arms and then fall onto the net.
According to the lawsuit, Johnson completed the first exercise but was visibly shaken and crying. Despite her condition, the professor insisted that she continue with a second exercise that involved a backflip dismount. Students were supposed to swing their legs forward, then backward, forward again, tuck their legs, and release to land in the net, explains the lawsuit.
During the second exercise, Johnson followed the instructions, but one of her legs crumpled beneath her as she landed on the net after completing the backflip. She realized she couldn’t stand, and blood was pouring out of her leg, as stated in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that USC had a responsibility to protect Johnson from unnecessary risks, supervise the curriculum of their professors, and ensure her safety. Johnson claims to have suffered severe physical and emotional injuries, incurred medical expenses, and experienced both current and future lost earnings.
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