Smith Ex Rel. Smith v. Archbishop of St. Louis Ex Rel. Archdiocese of St. Louis

This is an appeal by the Archdiocese of St. Louis from a jury verdict of $1,250,000 in favor of plaintiff, Sheila Smith, in her suit alleging negligent supervision. 1 Sheila’s mother brought the action as Sheila’s guardian and next friend.

In May 1976, Sheila was an eight-year-old second grade student at defendant’s Good Shepherd School. Sheila was to play the part of a bluebird in a school play planned for May 18. Sheila’s teacher, Ms. Mary Jane Wiegand, left to Sheila’s mother the styling and material of the costume; Ms. Wiegand instructed only that it should be blue and have “feathers”.…