A personal injury attorney who sued a CrossFit in St. Louis lost her claim in a Missouri state court after a jury cleared the fitness company of liability.
Plaintiff Julia Kerr, an asbestos attorney at the Maune Raichle firm, claimed that a weightlifting coach’s improper training at No Shelter CrossFit caused her to suffer a spinal injury.
Kerr reportedly sought $3 million in damages, but a jury ruled against it.
“I'm not saying that this is a good or bad decision but one of the major points of distinction is that the CrossFit matter did not involve multiple plaintiffs,” Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), said.
Kerr’s injury allegedly occurred after she tried to perform a deadlift exercise in a gym, which was part of a CrossFit training series. Cross Fit is a popular fitness program that enlists motivational coaches encouraging clients during their workout.
“We've written about the city of St. Louis city in our Judicial Hellholes report over the years,” Joyce told the St. Louis Record. “These issues are coming to the fore to the credit of both Gov. Mike Parson and the legislature. There have been some reform efforts in recent years.”
According to ATRA, excessive tort costs are costing the state of Missouri more than $3 billion yearly and some 32,205 jobs.
“Tort reform can significantly reduce or eliminate these costs, leading to substantial economic benefits as well as other positive outcomes,” the report states. “A strong judicial system is essential, and correcting imbalances is in the interest of Missouri residents, businesses, and society as a whole.”
In Kerr’s case, CrossFit argued that the plaintiff had undisclosed back problems prior to the injury and that she did not seek immediate medical attention, waiting instead more than a month, according to media reports.
It has been widely reported that Kerr blamed the injury on following her CrossFit instructor’s lead in how to perform the deadlift, which was allegedly inadequate.