Did the Somerset players shower after the game? Neither NewCath or the visiting team has access to the Newport lockers rooms with showering facilities when NewCath rents the field. Some visiting teams in the playoffs bus up to NewCath to use their locker room for showers after the game but some do not.

 

If no shower took place how does that enter into the legal argument? If Somerset did shower at NewCath could the infection happened at NewCath?

I think before too long we're going to see athletes having to sign a waiver in order to play sports that occur on turf surfaces, recognizing the risks they are running and assuming responsibility for the risk.

 

I can't help but think that if the Somerset player and his family win this suit, that in some way, it will give free license for every wrestler who ever got ringworm to turn around and sue.

I think before too long we're going to see athletes having to sign a waiver in order to play sports that occur on turf surfaces, recognizing the risks they are running and assuming responsibility for the risk.

 

I can't help but think that if the Somerset player and his family win this suit, that in some way, it will give free license for every wrestler who ever got ringworm to turn around and sue.

 

Well, ringworm isn't nearly as dangerous or virulent as MRSA and is much easier to treat, so while I guess you could sue, good luck getting any big payout for it. I don't know that anyone has been hospitalized because of ringworm. Regardless, it's the same issue. Did you get ringworm from the mat, from your opponent, or were you the one that got it first? Trying to trace these infections and pinpoint an exact cause is just nearly impossible. I would expect teams/schools to start keeping better records to show how often fields/gyms/locker rooms are cleaned and disinfected.

Well, ringworm isn't nearly as dangerous or virulent as MRSA and is much easier to treat, so while I guess you could sue, good luck getting any big payout for it. I don't know that anyone has been hospitalized because of ringworm. Regardless, it's the same issue. Did you get ringworm from the mat, from your opponent, or were you the one that got it first? Trying to trace these infections and pinpoint an exact cause is just nearly impossible. I would expect teams/schools to start keeping better records to show how often fields/gyms/locker rooms are cleaned and disinfected.

 

I agree with you. I just think that's going to be the precedent that is set by a win for the plaintiffs.

I agree with you. I just think that's going to be the precedent that is set by a win for the plaintiffs.

 

I hear you. What happens when people catch infections from hospitals?? I'm not aware of any big lawsuits or awards from these infections.

Did the Somerset players shower after the game? Neither NewCath or the visiting team has access to the Newport lockers rooms with showering facilities when NewCath rents the field. Some visiting teams in the playoffs bus up to NewCath to use their locker room for showers after the game but some do not.

 

If no shower took place how does that enter into the legal argument? If Somerset did shower at NewCath could the infection happened at NewCath?

 

Somerset did not shower at Newcath after that game. Not sure if or where they showered, but it wasn't at Newcath.

Somerset did not shower at Newcath after that game. Not sure if or where they showered, but it wasn't at Newcath.

 

Then I think lawyers could have a field day using that as a "probable contributing factor" to an infection on a cut spreading. Or maybe they should be suing Somerset schools also if they were offered the opportunity to shower and declined.

I know there is a lot going on now with theNewport program but would be interested to hear from them. They have kids on the field everyday working hard practicing all summer and play half their games on that field. Have the Wildcats had and health problems??

 

I can count on one hand the amount of MRSA infections between the Newport players in the past 2 years. And that is with them being on that field a lot.

Is one case to many and show lack of proper care of turf or is it almost to be expected unfortunately. I have never been a fan of turf. I always felt mud and field conditions are part of the game. I enjoyed playing in crappy conditions. I do however understand many many positives for having turf.

I hear you. What happens when people catch infections from hospitals?? I'm not aware of any big lawsuits or awards from these infections.

 

These are termed "Nosocomial infections" and are a big deal to hospitals. Government insurance will not pay for these and hospitals spend a lot of time determining if you have something when you come in and preventing it from happening.

This does nothing to improve my feelings for lawyers.

This case also illustrates to me a GLARING need for loser pays in civil cases.

Judge: School not liable for infection

 

Newport Independent School District isn't liable for an infection a visiting football player said he contracted on the football field at Newport High School, Campbell County Circuit Court Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward ruled.

 

Ward dismissed the lawsuit filed by Brycen McWilliams, a Somerset High School football player who said in November 2013 that a cut sustained during a game on the field became infected with an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. In the lawsuit, McWilliams blamed the field's artificial turf for harboring the bacteria.

 

Ward, in her ruling, found school boards have an immunity when performing government functions.

 

"Kentucky law considers the authorization and management of interscholastic athletics (like football programs) to be the performance of a government function," Ward wrote in her decision. "The court believes that any decision by the board concerning how to treat or manage the football field falls within the realm of its performance of a government function of managing athletics."

 

Newport Independent Schools Superintendent Kelly Middleton praised the ruling in a statement released Monday.

 

"Justice has been served," Middleton said in the statement. "Nothing is more important than the safety and welfare of students or persons who are in our schools or using our athletic facilities. We spent a lot of time and resources because of this lawsuit, but we knew all along that we did nothing inappropriate, unsafe or unsanitary, and we applaud Judge Reinhardt Ward's fair and impartial ruling."

Judge: School not liable for infection

 

Newport Independent Schools Superintendent Kelly Middleton praised the ruling in a statement released Monday.

 

"Justice has been served," Middleton said in the statement. "Nothing is more important than the safety and welfare of students or persons who are in our schools or using our athletic facilities. We spent a lot of time and resources because of this lawsuit, but we knew all along that we did nothing inappropriate, unsafe or unsanitary, and we applaud Judge Reinhardt Ward's fair and impartial ruling."

 

Look, I have no idea if the suit had any merit from a causation basis, but this statement is a red herring.

 

Judge Ward's ruling was based on sovereign immunity. That is a doctrine that prevents plaintiffs from suing governmental entities under certain circumstances.

 

It had nothing to do whether the judge felt that the school was negligent.

 

Just wanted to clarify this point.

Great example of why we need tort reform legislation. Wherever there is potential for a buck to be made, there will be an ambulance chaser to exploit the situation. Someone call Stan Chesley!