Hunt v. Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation & Correction

Facts

Lesa Hunt, Plaintiff, an inmate at Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation & Correction, Defendant, wasplaced to work outside with a yard crew. Carl Jenkins was the officer that was managing the yard crew. Jenkins told Plaintiff to clear the sidewalks with a snowblower. However, Plaintiff and Jenkins had never used a snowblower before. Yet, Jenkins instructed Plaintiff for about ten minutes on how to use the snowblower, based on training Jenkins received a week earlier from Woody Meyers, the head of the maintenance department. Moreover, Meyers specifically told Jenkins that whenever the blower would get clogged, Jenkins should activate the “Power Take Off” (PTO) switch. Thereafter, the engine should be completely shut down with the use of a key, and the clog should be cleared with water or some other device, but certainly not one’s hand. While Plaintiff was using the snowblower, the snowblower became clogged. Plaintiff put the PTO switch into the off position, thinking that it would turn off the power power. However, parts of the blower was still turned on and it continued to spin. After evaluating the chute, Plaintiff placed her gloved hand inside the snowblower and it began to clear snow. Subsequently, the machine caught the glove and pulled it down. Three of Plaintiff’s fingers were injured, causing her to lose those three fingers.Plaintiff sued Defendant for negligently training and supervising her.