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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KTVU, AP) - A Kansas mother says an insurance company wants her family to pay $132,000 after her 5-year-old son accidentally knocked over a sculpture at a city community center.
Sarah Goodman says the incident happened last month at Overland Park's Tomahawk Ridge Community Center as her family was leaving a wedding reception.
Goodman says she didn't see the artwork hit the ground but her son suffered minor injuries when it fell.
In a GoFundMe page she set up to try and off-set the "unknown legal fees" her family is facing, the mother of four says her son is okay and the wounds to his face are healing but adds, "He's still recovering from the trauma."
Goodman also apologizes for the situation and the stress that's resulted from the accident but notes, "As a Mom or Dad, we KNOW accidents are bound to happen." She also writes, "It's very unfortunate this happened. I'm standing by my son, it's important that he learns from this experience. Plain and simple."
The mother says she's received mean and hateful messages from strangers who have seen the video and read about the story, which has since gone viral.
"The comments that are hurtful and nasty about us are not OK," she says.
Goodman says the sculpture was unprotected at the crowded center.
"We feel that the mosaic torso should have been safely secured, tethered, etc. The base was 'clipped' and didn't seem to be correct, balanced or professionally installed, for the protection of the art and most importantly, the people," she writes. "Anyone could have been seriously wounded or possibly killed."
City spokesman Sean Reilly says the work was on loan to the city and says that the piece was secured. He also notes that neither the mosaic sculpture or any of the art on display are interactive pieces and meant to be climbed on.
He tells KTVU the artist spent two years on the project and determined the damage was not repairable and that the city was obligated to file a claim with its insurance company for the damage.
"We are not billing the family," Reilly says. "Our insurance company has reached out to the family's insurance company."
He says nothing like this has ever happened with art pieces that have been displayed at the community center. "This is an unfortunate set of circumstances for both the family and the city."
Reilly adds the city has been working to evaluate how to make sure something like this does not happen again.
Goodman says her children were well-supervised and she wasn't negligent. She hopes her insurance company can quickly resolve the issue.