The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled a woman can sue the State of Iowa over the death of her son — who was at a camp in Germany.
The University of Northern Iowa’s "Camp Adventure" program operates camps around the world for the children of parents who’re in the military and stationed overseas. In 2003, 10-year-old Blake Jermon was at a "Camp Adventure" camp in Germany when he nearly drowned in a swimming pool. He died three years later during surgery being done to correct problems related to his near-drowning.
The boy’s mother filed a lawsuit against the State of Iowa, claiming the University of Northern Iowa was negligent in the way it managed the Camp Adventure program, and had failed to properly train and supervise the college-aged students who ran the camp in Germany. Her lawsuit also charges counselors failed to properly supervise her son.
A district court judge dismissed the case saying it did not have jurisdiction because the even happened out the the U.S. But the Iowa Supreme Court today ruled the the case can proceed in Black Hawk County District Court.