Tech school student sues campus, saying toxic fumes from construction made her go into labor 16 weeks early

The lawsuit claims the college and construction contractor failed to protect students by not monitoring air quality, relocating classrooms, sealing the work area, or using ventilation and negative air pressure to limit exposure to toxic fumes, the outlet reports.

The student claims her pregnancy was normal as of a September 23 checkup, but less than a week later, on September 29, she was exposed to “overwhelmingly severe” toxic fumes in class during the renovations.

Both the instructor and several students reported feeling sick or lightheaded from the fumes, including the pregnant student, who reported her "nose and throat burning very strong like (a) paint or chemical smell,” the lawsuit states.

The pregnant student then became severely ill, vomited all night, and the next day went into labor, requiring ambulance transport to Mercy Hospital.

Her son was born by C-section at 24 weeks on September 30, weighing 1 lb. 6 oz. and measuring 11 inches. He was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a critical patient for 14 days. He faced life-threatening complications including respiratory problems, low blood pressure, jaundice, anemia, lung infections, retinopathy, and bleeding into the brain, according to the News-Leader.

The lawsuit states the newborn will need lifelong specialized care and faces higher risks of cerebral palsy, developmental delays, chronic respiratory issues, and vision and hearing loss.

The student is requesting a jury trial and unspecified damages for physical pain, loss of a normal pregnancy, risk of future complications, and ongoing medical costs.

The lawsuit also named OTC and DeWitt & Associates Inc. as defendants.

However, a representative for DeWitt & Associates Inc. told the Springfield News-Leader that it was the contractor involved in a separate project on campus, not the one included in the filing.

Ozarks Tech reportedly declined to comment on the pending lawsuit when contacted by the outlet, and court records indicate the college has not yet been served.

A spokesperson for Ozarks Tech told The Independent that the college does not comment on pending litigation.

The Independent has contacted representatives for DeWitt & Associates, as well as the student’s attoney, Aaron Wynn, for comment.