Student Hospitalized After Pushup Punishment Gets $183K

A Louisiana appeals court ruled that a former high school student who was hospitalized after being ordered to perform 200 pushups as punishment was rightfully awarded more than $180,000 in damages. Former McKinley High School student Tristen Rushing was l

Friday, February 14th 2020, 5:20 am

By: Associated Press

Student Hospitalized After Pushup Punishment Gets $183K

A Louisiana appeals court ruled that a former high school student who was hospitalized after being ordered to perform 200 pushups as punishment was rightfully awarded more than $180,000 in damages.

Former McKinley High School student Tristen Rushing was late to band practice in 2014 and was told to do 200 pushups as punishment. He was later hospitalized with muscle and kidney issues.

Tristen Rushing and his mother Melissa Rushing sued the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, McKinley High and the school’s former volunteer assistant band director, Jason Jones, in 2015.

The pair were originally rewarded $185,000 last September but an appeals court reduced the amount given for medical expenses on Tuesday.

The appeals court awarded him $183,302 in total for damages, The Advocate reported. The appeal panel reduced a portion of the payment that was awarded for medical expenses.

Medical testimony in the trial said Tristen Rushing’s muscles were so damaged that an extremely high level of enzymes were released into his system, threatening his kidneys and his life if it had been left untreated.

Rushing said his arms swelled up after the incident and his urine turned “pitch-black.” He said was later ostracized by his band mates for reporting the incident.

Jones said he was sorry and “would not have ever done anything to hurt” Rushing. McKinley band director Frank Williams also offered an apology.

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