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Old Tue May 14, 2002, 08:34pm
Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. is offline
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Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A.
Posts: 8,072
Quote:
Originally posted by Roger Greene
Quote:
Originally posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

When a player gets hurt because of a coach, in a wheelchair, is in the way, I can assure you that, the only persons who will be held accountable for that player's injuries will be the umpires on the field. Even though U.S. law says that the umpires must let that coach, in the wheelchair, the courts will no doubt also rule that the umpires know the hazards better than anybody of having a wheelchair bound coach on the field, and will hold the umpires and only the umpires accountable for that player's injuries.
Mark,
I beg to disagree. Following the law and the applicable rules is generally pretty good protection in any type suit. (The main reason I never allow a batter to warm up in the opposing team's on deck circle.)

I am a Judicial Official. I am called upon to rule on tort cases as part of that profession.

Roger Greene [/B]

You may be legally correct Your Honor, but there is alway jury nulification. If I were a betting man, I would bet dollars to donuts that if umpires let a coach in a wheelchair on the field and a player gets hurt, the jury will find against the umpires for letting the coach on the field. And no matter what the law says, the umpires responsibility is to the safety of the players and the to indulge the stupidity of a coach in a wheelchair.
__________________
Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.
Trumbull Co. (Warren, Ohio) Bkb. Off. Assn.
Wood Co. (Bowling Green, Ohio) Bkb. Off. Assn.
Ohio Assn. of Basketball Officials
International Assn. of Approved Bkb. Officials
Ohio High School Athletic Association
Toledo, Ohio
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