The Official Forum  

Go Back   The Official Forum > Basketball

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 02:50pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 25
Whats the world comming to?

I was working a high school AAU game this past weekend and 10 minutes into the game one kid pushed an opposing player to the floor, stood over him and pounded his face to a bloody pulp as he (the opposing player) was on his hands and knees. I was the trail offical in the back court and it happen in the front court opposite side of my lead. Before we could get there the kid was KO'ed. The coach ran on the court calling for someone to call the police, players squared off and spectators came down to the floor. Not much I thought I could do at that moment but we both tried to calm everyone down. The player(the beater) and one of the coaches for his team hurried him out of the gym before the cops got there. The weirdest thing was there was no indication of any problem before that point. No trash talking, no roughness and not any controversy. The kid was takin away in a ambulance and I found out the next day he had to have surjury to reconstruct his cheek bone and he had a dislocated jaw. I think I may end up in court on this one.

I see fights in NBA games sometimes on TV were guys get suspended for 10 or 20 games but if you saw how bad this kid beat the other one, if it was in the NBA I bet he would be suspended for life.

Whats the world comming to?
  #2 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 02:59pm
In Memoriam
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hell
Posts: 20,211
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philz
I think I may end up in court on this one.
You need to get a written report in to whoever assigned you to this game now. Immediately. Someone is gonna sue on behalf of the injured player, and if and when they do, they will name everybody involved, including the officials.

It's CYA time.
  #3 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 03:21pm
We don't rent pigs
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,627
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee
Someone is gonna sue on behalf of the injured player, and if and when they do, they will name everybody involved, including the officials.

I'm sure it varies by state, but what does the law say about this as far as an official being liable in a case like this?
__________________
I swear, Gus, you'd argue with a possum.
It'd be easier than arguing with you, Woodrow.


Lonesome Dove
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 03:27pm
In Memoriam
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hell
Posts: 20,211
Quote:
Originally Posted by just another ref
I'm sure it varies by state, but what does the law say about this as far as an official being liable in a case like this?
I don't have a clue. I do know though that in cases like this, everybody in the gym will get named in a suit. Frivolous or not, you gotta defend yourself too. Btw, most sports insurance plans do cover lawyer fees if you're being sued on related activities.
  #5 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 03:47pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,010
Is the video on youtube yet? Surely it's out there.
__________________
If you ain't first, you're LAST!!!
  #6 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 03:53pm
Fav theme: Roundball Rock
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Near Dog River (sorta)
Posts: 8,558
A NASO membership might be nice right about now, n'est pas?
__________________
Pope Francis
  #7 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 04:21pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 25
I wrote no statement and I have no insurrance.....Is it too late to get insurance knowing now that I could be involved in a law suit?
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 04:27pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,010
Probably too late.....Two things to consider....Are you a member of an association? Are you certified for high school through NFHS? If so, one of those things may have some coverage backing you that you don't know about.
__________________
If you ain't first, you're LAST!!!
  #9 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 04:35pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,801
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philz
I wrote no statement and I have no insurrance.....Is it too late to get insurance knowing now that I could be involved in a law suit?
It's highly unlikely that any insurance you buy from today forward would cover you for an incident that happened in the past. You still may be able to obtain liability coverage for the future, but YMMV.

Even though you haven't written a statement yet, though, doesn't mean you can't now. Write down exactly what happened, and exactly what you and your partner did. If you have an assignor or board commissioner, you may want to send him/her a copy.
__________________
"To win the game is great. To play the game is greater. But to love the game is the greatest of all."
  #10 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 04:53pm
In Memoriam
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hell
Posts: 20,211
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philz
I wrote no statement and I have no insurrance.....Is it too late to get insurance knowing now that I could be involved in a law suit?
As stated, check to see if your association has blanket coverage. Also check with whoever paid you for those AAU games as to whether they carried insurance. Their coverage might also cover you.

And get a report in. I'm kinda surprised that the police haven't contacted you already. That sounds like a felony assault of some kind.
  #11 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 06:34pm
Do not give a damn!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: On the border
Posts: 30,463
Written reports are considered legal documents. So they can and have been used for court cases.

Not sure how any of this has to do with the NBA. The NBA rarely even has a fight as compared to most sports.

Peace
__________________
Let us get into "Good Trouble."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Charles Michael “Mick” Chambers (1947-2010)
  #12 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 06:38pm
Adam's Avatar
Keeper of the HAMMER
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: MST
Posts: 27,190
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge
Written reports are considered legal documents. So they can and have been used for court cases.

Not sure how any of this has to do with the NBA. The NBA rarely even has a fight as compared to most sports.

Peace
Because the consequences are so severe; as opposed to other sports.
__________________
Sprinkles are for winners.
  #13 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 06:51pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Just north of hell
Posts: 9,250
Send a message via AIM to Dan_ref
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge
Written reports are considered legal documents. So they can and have been used for court cases.
Actually this is a great point.

If you're really concerned you might get sued speak to a lawyer before saying or writing anything to anyone else.

Since this was an aau game there's no report required. If I were you I would get with my partner and write down anything and everything possible about the game and file it away just in case. Then I would talk to the tournament director and my local association to see what kind of liability insurance I actually have. Then I would forget about it.

Oh yeah, you definitely should carry some type of your own liability insurance.
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 08:06pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Posts: 822
I just received the current NFHS newsletter. In this publication there is an article about legal issues. I can not give any details because I just flipped through the pages. I was just glancing at the title of the articles. I was surprised that the new basketball rules were not listed. Oh well..... have to wait for the next issue.
  #15 (permalink)  
Old Wed May 16, 2007, 09:23pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,193
Quote:
Written reports are considered legal documents. So they can and have been used for court cases.
Well, I wouldn't call them legal documents like I would, say, contracts or court documents, but reports ARE discoverable. The absolute best thing to do if you are worried about information coming out is to talk to a lawyer and let him write everything down. The other side for sure can't get to that based on the attorney client (and likely work product) privileges.

I highly doubt you'll get sued. Its likely they won't be able to find out who you are by the time the attorney gets around to filing this thing, if that happens at all. Even if they do know who you are, if you are uninsured, they probably won't mess with it. Your share of the negligence as it relates to the total event is so small, it wouldn't amount to much -- and that assumes you were even negligent at all, which I doubt.

Not to get into a legal discussion, especially since state law varies, but negligence, which is what you'd get sued based on, requires 4 elements: duty, breach of the duty, cause, and harm. Sometimes the last 2 elements are merged together (as they are in Texas). All elements must be proved or the case falls. I personally don't believe an official has a duty to prevent an unprovoked violent attack by one player on another, especially given that there was no forewarning or previous similar behavior. Without a duty, there's no negligence and no case.

Guys, the areas where we can get ourselves in big trouble are: playing on unplayable fields, courts, or conditions, AND attempting or preventing needed medical attention. Stay away from screwing around in those areas, and you'll probably stay lawsuit free.
Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
whats the all? xxssmen Basketball 28 Wed May 18, 2005 02:33pm
Whats the call ? debeau Softball 9 Wed Mar 16, 2005 08:02am
Whats the Call Derock2004 Football 26 Wed Oct 27, 2004 01:41am
whats the call allancru Softball 8 Sat Aug 23, 2003 12:10pm
lets keep them comming James Neil Football 20 Fri Jan 10, 2003 09:25am


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:00pm.



Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0 RC1