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<br />4—OWATONNAPEOPLE'SPRESS Sun.,May7,1978
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<br />�-� Wehave somec�l concenu in light ot the recent� government action and acGVilies. .
<br />jury°trial and arbaequent' award. of �more� fhan �g��The dilemma, however, is two-fold. Fitst of all, �.
<br />s4$000.to an Owatonna area woman fop injuries she :liability-insurance coverage for city government is �.
<br />received 2yz years'ago bn a metry-go-round at �§:cyrocketing, in cost. � Secoadly, it playground _
<br />� - Mineral S�ui�s Park. � � -- : ��: t+ -'.��- �� ;�equipment injury ]awsuits become too common; .
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<br />- In that parGcular wse, the� jury found �the �either the �tiability insurance premiums'�will
<br />� womads M�sband 55 per cent negligent the city 35 ` become prohibitive, or the city will be pressueed to
<br />- pet cent negligeot; and tiie woman 10 per cent � abandon all such piayground equipment as the best .
<br />� negligeot. The tity's liability insurance carrier will ; means of eliminating exposure to such problems. •. ,
<br />pay 516,625. � - ' �' � � �` •�� • � �„ i�--� � � There are those who may swft at such rnry'ecNre �
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<br />The fact remains, however, that the woman was as alesWt of only this recent lawsuit. Howevee, the
<br />injured while � using� , a. piece- -.of cityowned � sity has already ordered the removal of the so-��'� �
<br />playground equipment�. which was � apparenUy� in 4.calted cudy slide at Mineral Springs Park, a high. :.�
<br />�-need•of_repairat thr time. Setting..aside� the �spiral,slide that had been a•focal point of that,:,;;, ���
<br />��� quesLion - of ' addt � use � oF equipment. - primarily playgi�ound area [or more than 40 years. That slid�. .+
<br />"fi"dpigned tor �ildcm, we wonde�how long the city t,was the source ot many injuries over the years— ��
<br />. ot dwatonna can atfoed W provide playground �;when its condition was not e tactor. It represented
<br />� equipment tor public me?- , -;.?. ".: qtoo big.a I�ab�l�ty to the c�ry under present,con �
<br />Children do get Aurt on oue ciry playgrounds: It d�bons.. , : .�. ,_. .: „�: �r -
<br />inay or may not ha4e anytlung to� do with' the ," �Ve remmd area residents that the same fate has
<br />��� . conditlan of theequipment. We know kids [all out of `i6een the lot of trampolines: The school district haa �. ��:�
<br />.' swings, Eall otf ot merty-gorounds„occasionally :�abandoned use -of -� trampolines [or physical �'' �'�
<br />get their fingero pinched in teeter-totters and all �-education or any other schootactivity. The reason: ?'�.`.; `
<br />sorta of other thinge: ;�.:a -: : .3 i '.. "numerous injuries � and ' large� insurance claims -�,.� t�
<br />- Tirt.e was when an occasional�injiay; even� a`-tivoughout the state. - The �insura�rce liability �---�or
<br />broken bone,. was�cormidered a mere cAildhood �`carriers told the district that unless certain atde! attii
<br />experience-,a learning� experimce,'s-growing up ; prceedures were tollowed, and specified personnel ---�S�P
<br />eventthatwasa[actoflifeformosto[us. � �� �on,�duly, trampoline injury claims weuld not be .`rK�
<br />But tAat�was Defore attitudes c6anged. People ��covered�by insurance. The�lceal school distdct;-'fWli
<br />didn't we over such things. Md besides, govern- `along with most—if mt ail—others in the state,': •i�
<br />menhenJoyed sg[eat deal ot immunity. trom such i banned use ot trampolines. ;.,�oR�
<br />suib. Iaes at auch immuniry is probably morc [air ;-. Will the same thing happen to all playgrmmd �.' U
<br />in terms ot eitizens getting just wmpensalion when ' equipment? We don't know, bu[ fraakly, we're not � p��
<br />fhey have w(tered losaes or injuries because of �� optimistic. - . '�� �
<br />. [� jack Anderson ` . . ` . • " `
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