Negligence in High School Sports Lack of Supervision
- Slides: 8
Negligence in High School Sports: Lack of Supervision by Administration and Coaches BY SETH BRUTON
Background Starts with Administration ◦ Policies and procedures ◦ Hiring of coaches Coaches ◦ Don’t understand their duties and responsibilities Lawsuits ◦ Most settled before ever reaching trial
Legal Terms Statue of limitations ◦ 2 years, except if a minor Governmental Immunity Gross Negligence
Cross vs Wood County Schools http: //www. thenewscenter. tv/home/headlines/Plaintiff-Testifies-In-Case-Against-Wood-County -Schools-267401811. html
Cross vs Wood County Schools Coach does not perform duty to provide a safe environment Goes to trial, and the jury finds the defendant, the athletic department, guilty ◦ Assistant Coach was found to be liable for gross negligence, 50% at fault ◦ Athletic Administration was found to be liable for ordinary negligence, 30% at fault Under West Virginia state law, governmental immunity was not provided for the assistant coach since he was found for gross negligence
Crotty vs Buncombe Board of Education Football player ran over by ATV after practice, that put him in a medically induced coma, then died ten days later. ◦ His own teammate was operating the ATV No coaches were in sight when the situation occurred No policies in place about operating the ATV This case was settled before 1 week before trial and the Crotty family received a $1 million settlement A month later, the administration instituted a new policy for the ATV
Andreozzi vs Town of New Haven A cross country runner who was working out on the school track was injured when they ran into a bench placed on the track File a lawsuit for $7, 600 in medical bills Connecticut Superior Court held that the Town of New Haven was protected by the governmental immunity
Legal Opinion Administrators have an obligation to have policies and procedures in place to provide a safe environment Coaches should be aware of their duties and responsibilities before even stepping foot on the field It should be the a conjoint effort from administration and coaches to be aware of all situations and review each situation according to their risk management
