Widow of man who died in YMCA sauna files lawsuit

LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A woman whose husband died last year after he was found unconscious inside a sauna is suing the Lafayette Family YMCA over his death.\nBerma L. Johnson of Lafayette alleges in the lawsuit that the YMCA failed to properly supervise the sauna and that employees might have removed or modified the sauna’s timers.\nHer lawsuit seeking unspecified damages was filed Friday in Tippecanoe Superior Court. It asks for documents regarding maintenance, repair or alteration of the sauna.\nJohnson’s husband, James Johnson, 61, died Jan. 21, 2007, at a Lafayette hospital two days after he was found in the sauna.\nDon Franklin, the chief executive officer of the Lafayette Family YMCA, said its insurance companies and attorneys were handling the issue. But Franklin said a staff member checks the facility daily, a practice that was done before Johnson’s death and continues today.\n“Everything was and is operating under insurance guidelines,” he said. “We mainly abide by the YMCA of the USA guidelines that they post for facilities.”\nAn autopsy found that Johnson’s organs were fatally damaged from being inside the sauna for an estimated two hours, said the family’s attorney, Jeff Cooke of Lafayette.\n“We believe it just wouldn’t be right to let this go away,” Cooke said. “He went there almost every day – they knew him; they called him Jimmy. They knew he used the sauna before.”\nCooke said an employee who had locked up for the day went to check for Johnson after noticing his vehicle was still in the parking lot after closing hours and found him in the sauna.\nThe sauna has signs that warn people with health problems and those taking medication about entering. Franklin said that sign was on the sauna before Johnson’s death.\nCooke said it was unknown whether Johnson passed out or fell asleep in the sauna.