Madalaine Copeland has taken legal action against a prominent non-profit organization, alleging negligence and premises liability after a distressing incident involving her minor child. The complaint was filed by Madalaine Copeland in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, on December 5, 2024, naming the YMCA of the Greater Houston Area as the defendant.
The case revolves around an unfortunate event that occurred on July 3, 2024, when Copeland's minor child was attending a yoga class at the YMCA facility located at 19915 TX-249 in Houston. During the class, an object reportedly fell from the ceiling and struck the child in the left eye, causing severe injuries. According to the lawsuit, Copeland claims that the YMCA failed to maintain a safe environment for its patrons and neglected to address or warn about potential hazards such as falling debris from the ceiling.
Copeland accuses the YMCA of breaching its duty of care by not ensuring that their premises were free from dangerous conditions. The lawsuit states that "Defendant knew or should have known about the unreasonably dangerous condition created by pieces of debris falling from the ceiling." Despite this knowledge, it is alleged that no corrective actions were taken nor warnings issued to prevent harm to individuals like Copeland's child. This failure is claimed to be a direct cause of the injuries sustained.
The plaintiff is seeking compensation for various damages resulting from this incident. These include physical pain and suffering endured by her child both in the past and anticipated in future, medical expenses incurred due to necessary treatments, and compensation for any disfigurement or impairment caused by these injuries. Additionally, Copeland requests pre-judgment and post-judgment interest along with other special damages deemed necessary under premises liability laws. She is pursuing monetary relief exceeding $1 million.
Representing Madalaine Copeland are attorneys Brent M. Cordell and Vanessa C. Botello from Smith & Hassler law firm along with J.D. Page from his own practice based in Houston. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-84877 and will be presided over by Judge Carly Mitchell in Harris County's 129th Judicial District Court.