OMG - local ref gets sued on People's Court

[BigT]

Originally Posted by BigT

Todd's webmail to NFHS

Topic:NFHS Officials Association
Comments:I know I have some liability coverage as a referee due to my dues. If a recreation center forces me to allow a kid to play with a steel brace and said player hurts another to require medical attention and incur medical bills will my liability coverage help me or because I have not followed the rule book am I on my own?

Response...

Mr. Thurston,



I contacted our insurance company, Dissinger Reed and below is their response:



The liability policy only pays sums he is legally obligated to pay in a court of law.

If he is sued, it pays monetary damages.

So if this was to end up in a court of law, and a judge or jury found him negligent and responsible for the medical expenses, then yes it would cover him.



If you have any further questions you can reach Dissinger Reed at...

Anyone else blown away by this response and coverage?

I replied...

This makes no sense to me. The rule book says it is illegal to let a player play basketball with a steel brace. If I ignore that rule and the kid hurts someone and I am sued you will pay for all my legal bills and pay the damages from the suit?

The reply..

I’m not asking you to ignore the rule, I thought you were asking a worst case scenario, if you were “forced” as you put it, to allow an athlete play with a steel brace and someone was injured. You would be covered.

....

This seems crazy to me.

[BigT]

Officials Legal Liability

[MD Longhorn]

What the heck do the last 3 posts have to do with the 3 year old thread you appended it to?

[BigT]

As I was researching the topic I thought some might like to read stuff on that link.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BigT

I’m not asking you to ignore the rule, I thought you were asking a worst case scenario, if you were “forced” as you put it, to allow an athlete play with a steel brace and someone was injured. You would be covered.

As was stated previously, you can't be "forced" if you walk away.