Jackson Yakata's mother, Amanda Fisher, claims in a lawsuit that a wall in the Ramsey High School locker room collapsed on his leg, derailing his athletic dreams.

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A Bergen County teen’s athletic career was cut short after a locker room wall collapsed on him at his school, a fresh lawsuit claims.

Ramsey High School student and two-sport varsity athlete Jackson Yakata was left with life-altering injuries after a wall in the boys’ locker room collapsed on him on Tuesday, March 18, according to the complaint filed by the Lynch Law Firm on behalf of Yakata and his mother, Amanda Fisher.

The suit names the Borough of Ramsey, the Ramsey Board of Education, and multiple construction and architectural firms as defendants. Daily Voice reached out to Ramsey's borough administrator and the school board. Ramsey BOE President Laura Behrmann told Daily Voice that the Board does not comment on pending litigation.

Yakata, a standout on both the football and wrestling teams, was in the boys’ locker room when the wall collapsed on top of him, causing him to sustain a ruptured anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL, PCL), a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), dislocation with extensive edema, and more that required the teen to undergo a series of complex surgeries.

Yakata at the scene with responders.

Yakata at the scene with responders.

Provided by Lynch Lawfirm
After the locker room collapse.

After the locker room collapse.

Provided by Lynch Lawfirm

The suit alleges the wall, built during a 2021 renovation project by C.R. Construction , was improperly constructed without required reinforcing materials such as Rebar. The structure’s instability, according to the complaint, created a “dangerous condition” that school and borough officials “either knew or should have known” about. The suit alleges the contractors failed to follow safety standards and construction plans when erecting the wall between Nov. 16 and Nov. 30, 2021.

The number listed online for C.R. Construction was not in service when Daily Voice called Friday morning, Nov. 7. 

Yakata's medical team said he will never be able to play competitive football or wrestle again, his lawyers said in a release.

Jackson in the hospital following the accident.

Jackson in the hospital following the accident.

Provided by Lynch Lawfirm
Jackson's leg

Jackson's leg

Provided by Lynch Lawfirm

“Due to the gross negligence of these parties, a young man’s athletic dreams have been shattered; his high school experience will never be the same,” said his attorney Arthur Lynch. “This tragic event was entirely avoidable if not for these careless actions of many.”

The principal and founder of Solutions Architecture, Frank Messineo, who was also named in the lawsuit, said he was unable to comment due to ongoing litigation.

Yakata and Fisher are seeking unspecified damages for what they describe as “serious, grievous, and permanent injuries” requiring ongoing medical care and rehabilitation.