Woman Files Suit after Breaking Neck in 2002 Fall

By Merylee Robbins

Published on January 05, 2006

While helping to decorate for Rowan 250 Fest, an event celebrating the formation of Rowan County 250 years earlier, Margaret Basinger climbed up a ladder that was being held by volunteers, Barbara King and Ruth Thomas, to dust some rafters and fell approximately 20 feet, landing on her head. Basinger sustained a broken neck and had to undergo surgery to realign her spine, in addition to completing extensive rehabilitation to relearn how to walk, eat and care for herself while restricted to a wheel chair. Basinger's lawsuit claims that, to this day, her injuries still cause her pain, discomfort and disability and she is seeking compensation in excess of $10,000 to cover past, present and future medical expense, her permanent physical impairment, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life.

Basinger's lawsuit states that her injuries were the result of negligence by those putting on, sponsoring, and housing the event to properly maintain the premises and provide safe conditions/equipment suitable for the activities being performed.

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