Suit: Flying sign at UCF game hurt woman
Merritt Island woman suing for negligence
A Brevard County woman is suing the University of Central Florida, saying she was hit in the head by an airborne sign in November during a football game at Spectrum Stadium.
Heather Paver, 32, of Merritt Island was watching the UCF Knights take on the University of Connecticut Huskies when a “three-tiered, metal-framed sign stand” flew into the Carl Black and Gold Cabana premium seating area and struck her head, according to the suit.
University officials can’t comment on pending litigation, spokesman Mark Schlueb said.
Paver filed the suit Aug. 14 in Orange County Circuit Court, accusing the university, the Board of Trustees and the Athletic Association of negligence and is seeking damage in excess of $15,000, according to court records. Her lawyer, Eric Gillin with a Melbournebased firm, wasn’t immediately available for comment.
UCF owns Spectrum Stadium and oversaw construction of the 45,000-seat arena, dubbed the “Bounce House” when it opened in 2007 because it shifted slightly as fans jumped together while rooting on the Knights.
Although school officials said the arena was never unsafe, the university spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2008 to strengthen the underpinnings of the stadium by bolting extra steel to about 160 beams.
But last year, UCF sued the stadium’s architects and contractors, saying there were structural defects caused by failure to comply with building codes, construction plans, design documents and industry standards.
At the Nov. 11 UCF-UConn game — which the Knights won for their ninth victory in what would be a perfect season — the university and stadium officials failed to properly secure the sign and inspect the area it was posted in, Gillin alleged in the case filing.
In the Black and Gold Cabana — located between the 30-yard lines on the east side of the stadium — fans have access to a Florida-themed social area, including a sun deck and covered lounge.
As a result of her head injury, Paver’s attorney said she incurred medical expenses, loss of income and suffered permanent and continuing injuries.