COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The parents of a student killed during an elevator accident have decided to sue The Ohio State University.
Andrew Polakowski died when an elevator in Stradley Hall stalled and slipped two years ago. He was 18 years old and a freshman at the time of the accident, NBC 4's Patrick Preston reported.
There were more than 20 students on the elevator at the time, and the teenager suffocated while trying to crawl out.
The incident launched an investigation into how frequently elevators on campus are inspected.
The lawsuit from Polakowski's parents seeks a dollar amount in excess of $50,000 from The Ohio State University for the October 2006 elevator failure -- after both parties failed to reach a settlement.
"We listed a myriad series of problems that were associated with the design and inspection and maintenance of the elevator," said Peter Weinberger, Polakowski family attorney.
School spokesman Jim Lynch declined a request for an interview, but instead issued a written statement, calling the elevator accident "extremely tragic" and adding, "the university is reviewing the family's findings and will consult with legal counsel on the next steps we need to take."
Lynch also listed a number of safety enhancements and upgrade that have been made since the incident, including more timely complaint reviews, new brakes, rope grippers and video cameras in some high-rise elevators.
But, Weinberger argued the university still bears responsibility for the events of October 2006.
"There was no warning whatsoever to students that the elevator's braking system was so inadequate," Weinberger said.
The university has 28 days to respond to the complaint.
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