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Old Sun Apr 17, 2005, 08:11am
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Nice to see that some folks are looking out for us. The increased penalties I've heard about in other states, but the liability limit is a new twist. Makes a ton of sense, though - there are plenty of people who are lawsuit-happy around.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...041110976.html
Quote:
April 11, 2005

Panel votes to protect Nevada sports officials
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada lawmakers moved Monday to thwart rabid sports fans from launching legal or physical attacks on sport officials.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to increase penalties for assault and battery against sports officials and to limit officials' liability in civil litigation.

Backers of AB474 said it's necessary to deter violent sports fans and overly zealous soccer dads from taking out frustrations on the people making the calls.

"Unfortunately, every time one of us blows our whistle, or makes a call, usually half the crowd thinks we are wrong, and some people are unable to handle ... having a call called against them," said Ronald Thompson, a Las Vegas attorney and college basketball official. "Sports officials ... are in some ways vulnerable to a greater degree than normal people, I would say."

AB474 would make unarmed assault against a referee, umpire, judge, timekeeper or inspector a gross misdemeanor - rather than a misdemeanor - punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The stiffer penalty already applies to crimes against police officers, school employees, health care workers, taxicab and bus drivers.

The bill also would prevent sports officials from being sued for "unintended acts or omissions" while officiating.

The National Association of Sports Officials has launch a national campaign to pass laws to stop the "cancer of bad behavior" sweeping the country. According to the group, 19 states have passed legislation to protect sports officials from violence or legal liability.

The Nevada bill also became a vehicle for a handful of provisions backed by the Nevada Athletic Commission, which regulates boxing in the state.

At the urging of the commission and attorney general's office, lawmakers tacked on an amendment making minor changes to regulations for closed-circuit telecasts and promotion license fees. Legislators also added timekeepers, judges and inspectors to the definition of sports officials.

But the effort to add physicians to that list failed.

"At least in the boxing world the physician plays a big part, they come into the ring, they check out the boxer, see if he or she has had too much punishment, perhaps has a cut that should cause the bout to be stop," said Keith Kizer, deputy attorney general. "Thankfully, we've had no such assault against our ring officials, yet. There have been several boxers in the past that have gotten quite upset by the ringside physician coming in and suggesting to the referee that the bout be stopped."

Lawmakers noted that physicians already enjoyed limits on litigation under the medical malpractice bill passed in 2003. Civil damages are limited to $350,000.

Assemblyman Garn Mabey, R-Las Vegas, a physician, voted for the bill, but was frustrated that the physicians were omitted.

"As a physician, it seems we get treated differently," he said. "In the case of the boxers, (physicians) were part of the game, they had to make a call."

The commission ran into opposition when it tried to give ringside officials the same protections and civil immunities afforded to public employees, namely a $50,000 cap on civil damages.

"All the ringside officials, really what they are is an arm of the Nevada Athletic Commission when they're in there," said Chairman Skip Avansino.

Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, didn't buy that argument and thought the provision steered too far from the original purpose of the bill.

"A blanket cap that we do to protect taxpayers dollars is a much different situation than boxing event," she said. "It's a pretty radical concept and a lot different from trying to get tougher on sports fans who get out of control at an event."
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