Illinois –A venue change has brought a 2011 lawsuit against Illinois College to Morgan County, accusing the college of being one of several parties contributing to the wrongful death of Grinnell College pole vaulter Robert Yin. Yin was injured during the 2010 Midwest Conference Championships at Illinois College on May 14, 2010, and died as a result of those injuries a few days later at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. The suit was originally filed in Cook County by Yin’s mother, Sandra G. Giger, and has not seen much development while attorneys have been requesting a change in venue, as many of the defendants are not based in Cook County and do not conduct business in Cook County.
In October, a Cook County judge approved the venue change, and documents were received by the Morgan Circuit clerk this week. Others named in the suit include Grinnell College of Iowa, Midwest Conference of Wisconsin, Gill Athletics and Porter Athletic Equipment Co. The lawsuit, which represents only one side of a claim, contends that Grinnell College and Illinois College should have prevented Yin from participating in the pole vault because of his physical condition and that Illinois College did not provide adequate safety equipment. The suit contends Yin had a recurring problem with landing to the right in pole vaults and was permitted to compete by event organizers and coaches despite this problem in technique. He also told coaches that he was experiencing pain and feeling physically ill in the days leading up to the competition, according to the complaint. While attempting to clear an 11-foot jump, he landed to right, resulting in a mat collapsing under him and pulling away from the mat beside it. The lawsuit said Yin was whipped off the collapsed mat and onto the hard uncovered ground, where he struck the back of his head. After emergency surgery at Memorial Medical Center, Yin died May 17, 2010. Claims made against Illinois College include that safety equipment was set up 4 inches off center to the left, the college created unreasonably dangerous conditions, failed to properly assemble equipment, failed to warn Yin of the inherent dangers of pole vaulting at the facility and failed to provide competent supervisors, coaches and training personnel. Giger is seeking in excess of $50,000 from Illinois College. source
