Injured Connecticut Gymnast Gets $625K

A former high school gymnast from Milford whose feet were severely injured when plywood boards fell on them as she set up a temporary floor for practice has settled with the school department for $625,000.

Kaylee Ritchie was 14 when 10 to 12 boards, weighing between 10 and 20 pounds each fell on her bare feet in December 2004 at Jonathan Law High School. Her lawyer told The New Haven Register that her injuries curtailed what had been a promising athletic career in soccer, softball and gymnastics.

Her lawyers said in a lawsuit that the gymnastics coach told the students to set up the floor in direct violation of school policy, which said only custodial staff were allowed to.

The town’s insurance will cover most of the settlement.