MEDIA – A man who says he suffered a number of serious leg injuries from an unsecured weight machine at a local YMCA, has filed legal action to recover damages against the fitness center.
Sean Lilly of Media filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on July 14 versus Rocky Run YMCA, also of Media.
On Sept. 5, 2015, Lilly was a member of the Rocky Run YMCA and exercising there on a Smith Machine, when the weighted-down barbell caused him to collapse to the ground while the safety locks/yellow dead-stops were not employed/fastened/set/locked in a safe position on the Smith Machine, resulting in severe and permanent personal injuries.
Lilly suffered a complete dislocation of his left foot in a lateral direction (described as a “massive deformity of the left ankle” by Bryn Mawr Hospital); posterior malleolus fracture; syndesmosis disruption; high fibular fracture; closed displaced fracture of the distal aspect of the left tibia; oblique and comminuted fracture of the proximal aspect of the left fibula; muscle strain of the right thigh; enthesophyte formation at the quadriceps tendon and floating fracture fragments in the joints, all resulting in multiple surgical procedures, plus arthritis, emotional and mental injuries.
Lilly believes Rocky Run YMCA did not exercise reasonable care by noticing the yellow dead-stops were not set on the Smith Machine when he was using it, protect the plaintiff from being injured by the machine or properly training their staff on how to instruct members in the use of said exercise equipment.
For an allegation of negligence, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus costs, delay damages and interest to be determined at the time of trial.
The plaintiff is represented by Thomas D. Houghton of Tom Houghton Law, in Kennett Square.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case 2017-006243
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com