A family is suing Valparaiso Community Schools after a teen football player was injured during an off-season drill last month.
Jason Solomon is alleging his son was “forcibly” shoved backwards on Feb. 2 by two older players during a “no-contact” drill, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in Porter Superior Court.
The boy was left with a severe concussion that led to a traumatic brain injury, fractured wrist, injured other wrist and neck injuries, according to the lawsuit. The Post-Tribune is not naming him because he is a minor.
They are also alleging negligence, saying that the Valparaiso High School coaches or staff didn’t effectively help the boy after he was hurt. He was forced to call his father to take him to a hospital, filings allege.
The coaches and staff had a duty to properly monitor and ensure safety, prevent dangerous physical contact, protect younger players from more experienced ones, monitor player “conduct” and help someone once they are injured, the suit states.
The city of Valparaiso and Valparaiso High School are also named in the lawsuit. A representative for Valparaiso Community Schools was not immediately available Friday night.
The entire situation was “compounded by the School’s alleged failure to follow proper first-aid protocols and provide immediate medical assessment and treatment of the (his) injuries,” lawyer Walter Alvarez said in a statement on behalf of lawyer Montgomery Finch, who is representing the family.
Even as football is a “dangerous” sport, team officials “failed dramatically” to assist the boy.
Alvarez also alleged the boy “faced numerous acts of intimidation” for speaking out afterwards.
“This environment of psychological and emotional retaliation is unacceptable and presents a potentially profound failure by the Valparaiso School System, from top administration to those directly responsible for student safety and supervision…to protect our children, not expose them to further harm, and/or allow a culture where injured students are targeted for reporting legitimate concerns,” he wrote.
He called for a “thorough and transparent” school investigation into the practice, what happened after the boy was injured, “subsequent threats,” and “failure of current protocols”.
“No parent should have to fear for their child’s well-being on the floor, in the hallways, or in the community because those in positions of authority failed in their duty to protect those in their care,” he added.
The lawsuit is asking for non-specified damages, lawyer costs and other relief.
mcolias@post-trib.com
