Youth Sports and the Courts

 Posted on: December 11 2014

No, not the kind of courts you play on. A Phoenix youth baseball player is learning the hard way about the American legal system, and how youth sports works.

Greg Bozinovich is a 12-year-old baseball player whose father was hurt at a ball park. His dad filed a personal injury lawsuit against the United States Specialty Sports Association in connection with his injury. Because of that filing, Greg is no longer able to play baseball.

Some background: Two years ago, Daniel Bozinovich said he fell off the bleachers, which he said did not have safety railings, during a USSSA-sanctioned event at a Phoenix-area sports park. In the fall, he suffered a spine injury that has kept him from working.

To recover damages, Daniel Bozinovich filed suit November 13. At the end of November, USSSA state directors sent an email to the family, saying they had been suspended from USSSA activities for a year for what the organization called “unsportsmanlike behavior for actions on November 13.”

The email also said the family would be banned for life, if the case moved forward.

That means 12-year-old Greg cannot participate in USSSA activities, and since the USSSA organization underwrites insurance for many leagues and tournaments, that keeps Greg on the sidelines for many tournaments.

A USSSA document does state that any participant “who threatens in writing a legal action against USSSA … shall be automatically suspended from all USSSA activities until such threatened legal actions or legal disagreements are resolved to the satisfaction of the USSSA Board of Directors.”

So what are your thoughts? The organization is looking to protect itself, but at what cost? You can read the full article here: http://www.kpho.com/story/27532845/phoenix-dad-files-personal-injury-lawsuit-youth-baseball-club-suspends-his-son?autostart=true

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