A Lyons Township High School athlete who lost a finger early last year in a weight lifting accident has filed suit against the school, a football coach and a teammate.
The suit, filed Dec. 31 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges Daniel Mattucci was lifting weights March 19 during off-season weight lifting when teammate William Bronec III dropped a 50-pound dumbbell on Mattucci’s left hand. The dumbbell severed Mattucci’s left ring finger.
The suit claims Bronec dropped the weight without warning and accuses him of not following proper weightlifting procedures.
Lyons Township teacher and football coach Brian Kopecky is also named in the suit for allegedly not properly supervising the workout session and for allegedly failing to seek medical assistance for Mattucci.
Kopecky did not return a call seeking comment.
Mattucci’s attorney, John La Mantia, said his client’s finger could not be reattached and it is still too early to say whether Mattucci will seek prostethics to replace the severed finger.
“There’s options we can explore in the future with his medical care but right now he is still recovering from the injury a year later,” La Mantia said.
Also named in the suit is the school and School District 204, for not allowing paramedics to treat Mattucci in the weight room.
Superintendent Timothy Kilrea and Principal David Franson are also named in the suit.
Kilrea said he had not personally received notice of the lawsuit. Attempts to reach Kopecky were unsuccessful.
