OU alumnus sues over camping injuries

A former outdoor studies student is suing Ohio University for injuries sustained during a wilderness survival trip.

During Spring Quarter 2006, then-senior Christopher Mance went on the trip despite his history of epileptic seizures.

While on the trip, which requires students to survive for a weekend alone in the wilderness, Mance had a seizure and fell face first into a fire. He suffered third and fourth degree burns to his face, arms and hands as well as an injury to the frontal lobe of his brain, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims OU failed to have a doctor review Mance’s Medical Information Form prior to the trip, among other charges of neglect.

“Everyone here has deep compassion for the young man’s situation resulting from his accident,” OU spokeswoman Katie Quaranta said in a written statement. “The facts in cases of this sort, however, are always more complex than they seem on the surface.”

The Mance family is suing OU for future medical expenses, lost wages and physiological injuries. The family declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The extent of future treatment needed and the cost of the treatment is unclear, said Robert Miller, Mance’s counsel from the Columbus-based Rourke and Blumenthal Personal Injury Lawfirm. Shriners, an international fraternity that provides free orthopedic and burn care for children, has paid for most of Mance’s medical expenses thus far, Miller said. It is unknown how long Shriners will fund Mance’s treatment because he is over 18, he said.

Mance may sue for up to $250,000 for physiological injuries alone, according to Ohio Revised Code.

“(Mance) is horribly disfigured and will be for the rest of his life,” Miller said.

Mance’s inability to spend long periods of time in the sun, to work around chemicals and to sweat hinders his ability to maintain a job, he said.

Mance was taking Depakote, a drug sometimes used to treat epilepsy, but the lawsuit states changes in sleeping and eating patterns during the trip increased the likelihood that Mance would have a seizure.

Students were provided with one lunch and two snacks for the weekend trip, Miller said. Irregular sleeping and eating habits can trigger a seizure in epileptics.

About three months prior to the trip, Mance suffered a seizure at an OU swim meet and was suspended from operating a motor vehicle.

“We’re just hopeful that we can do everything in our power to fix what needs to be fixed for Chris.  Courtesy of Ohio U. Post student newspaper -thepost.com

written by Roc