A pregnant aerobics instructor who was shot twice during a health club attack in August sued the gunman Monday, charging that related stress has put her in danger of a miscarriage.
Mary Beth Primis, 26, was 10 weeks pregnant when she was leading the aerobics class at an L.A. Fitness Health club in Collier Township on Aug. 4. Gunman George Sodini fired at least 52 shots from three weapons, wounding Primis in both shoulders, and hitting 11 other women, three of whom died, before fatally shooting himself.
Primis was wounded in both shoulders and hospitalized for more than a week. Her fetus survived, though her attorneys claim she suffered "stress and harm while pregnant" and remains in danger of miscarriage as a result. Danielle Elderkin, a spokeswoman for the attorneys, said Primis is due to give birth in March.
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"The horror of that tragic day will remain with her for a lifetime," attorney George Kontos said. "Filing this lawsuit is just one step as she continues through her healing process."
Primis and her husband, Alex, are seeking at least $175,000 in damages from the estate of the 48-year-old Sodini. At least two other victims have filed papers saying they intend to sue Sodini's estate but have yet to file complaints.
Sodini's brother, Michael, is executor of his estate. He did not immediately return a call for comment Monday.
According to a Web diary that surfaced after the shootings, Sodini seethed with anger and frustration toward women, claiming he hadn't had a girlfriend since 1984 and hadn't slept with a woman in 19 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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