Cook County (Ill.) judge Eileen O’Connor has ordered First Ascent Climbing and Fitness to pay a combined $50 million in compensatory damages and payments to the family of a child who was assaulted in the climbing gym four years ago.
According to 25 News Now, the sexual assault occurred in 2022 at First Ascent Climbing and Fitness’s Peoria location. The child was attending a summer camp program when another child assaulted him in the climbing gym bathroom.
Attorneys representing the family alleged that First Ascent Climbing and Fitness failed to train its employees on proper child supervision, and they said this verdict will change the narrative for Illinois summer camps, reinforcing the responsibility these organizations have to ensuring child safety.
The lawsuit went on to say that camp counselors had been previously warned that the perpetrating child should not have been allowed alone in the bathroom with other children due to his involvement in a pattern of previously concerning incidents. That boy faced a trial in Peoria County court, but those records are sealed because he is a juvenile.
“Young counselors were basically left in charge to set up, establish and figure out the guidelines of the camp with no oversight from any managers,” attorney Charles Haskins said. “The two managers on the day of the incident, one was actually in Wyoming, and one was at a dentist appointment, and these three counselors were left with absolutely no support.”
Following the 2022 assault, First Ascent Climbing and Fitness’s Peoria location has remained open and still operates summer climbing camps for kids.
“When parents sign their kids up for summer camp, I think the number one assumption is, above climbing and activities, their [children] are going to be supervised,” Haskins said. “If you’re going to advertise a summer camp to kids, you have to do it the right way.”
