Aug 9 , 2005 | Jeff Reinitz | WFC Courier

CEDAR FALLS --- A Cedar Falls-based recreation program that had a staff member drown at a pool in Italy last week is being sued in a separate incident by the mother of a boy who almost drowned in Germany two years ago.

Vinnell Griffen, the mother of Blake Jermon, filed a lawsuit against the State of Iowa and Camp Adventure in Black Hawk County District Court Wednesday.

UNI officials referred questions about the lawsuit to the Iowa Attorney General's Office, which declined to comment because it involves pending litigation.

Camp Adventure is a 20-year-old foreign service program based at the University of Northern Iowa . Using a staff of American college students, the nonprofit group offers recreation to youths at United States military bases and embassies in more than 20 countries.

Griffen, a single mother, is a sergeant with the U.S. Army. She and her son, Jermon, are from Walton Hills , Ohio , according to the lawsuit.

Jermon, then 10, was participating in Camp Adventure 's Hanau Sports Camp in Alzenau , Germany , June 25, 2003, when the incident happened, said the lawsuit written by attorney Pressley Henningsen of Cedar Rapids.

Jermon and other children were in the care of three adult supervisors when he almost drowned in a swimming pool, according to a claim his mother filed with the state. Two German students ultimately rescued him, the claim state.

The boy suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the accident, and will continue to receive medical care from the United States government, records state. He is in a persistent vegetative state and requires around-the-clock medical attention, documents state.

The attorney for the family said in court records the actions of Camp Adventure employees showed disregard for Jermon's safety and caused the damages.

An attorney for the family filed a $3 million out-of-court claim with the Iowa State Appeal Board, which was denied in April.

Recent drowning
The lawsuit comes shortly after another tragedy connected with Camp Adventure.

A Camp Adventure staff member, 20-year-old Stephen Dember of Arizona , died after diving into a shallow area of a pool. The incident happened on the Ederle U.S. Army base in Vicenza , Italy , Wednesday, according to an Italian news service.

Dember, a sophomore business major at the University of Oregon, dived from a chair into about 3 feet of water and hit his head on the bottom. He was a swimming instructor and activity coordinator for children of personnel at the Army base.