Student Whose Hand Crushed by Meteorite Sues Arizona University

A University of Arizona student is suing the school after a 270-pound meteorite crushed his hand.

The Arizona Republic reported that the lawsuit filed in Pima County Superior Court earlier this week says freshman Grant Black tried to move a piece of the Canyon Diablo meteorite at the university’s Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium last November. A claim filed this year says the rock crushed his hand, causing his pinkie to be amputated and his ring finger to be paralyzed.

According to the lawsuit, the exhibit encouraged visitors to interact with the meteorite. It says the rock was displayed in on a tripod not anchored to the ground, which it describes as precarious and unreasonably dangerous.

UA spokesman Chris Sigurdson declined comment. He says the university doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Topics Lawsuits Education Universities