Guest JL Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 By JAMES FANELLI and MIKE SCHOLL May 20, 2007 -- She won't let it slide. A Staten Island mom is blaming her son's injury during a Little League game on a bum education in base-running. In a new twist on an old rite of passage, Jean Gonzalez is suing a beloved veteran coach for not teaching her son Martin how to slide properly, according to a lawsuit filed on May 4. The litigation stems from an ill-fated play exactly three years earlier, when Martin, then 12, whacked his first hit of the season and was told to go for second by his first-base coach. When he slid into second base, he suffered "serious bodily injury" that required multiple surgeries and caused "permanent scarring and disability," according to the suit filed in Staten Island Supreme Court. The suit did not specify the dollar amount of damages. Martin's coach, Leigh Bernstein, the New Springville Little League, and its international umbrella organization, Little League Baseball and Softball Inc., are all named as defendants in the suit, which charges them with never teaching him "skills needed to avoid and/or minimize the risks of injury," specifically how to run bases and slide. News of the suit shocked the league, with some parents calling it frivolous and saying injuries are part of the game. "I think it's kind of funny," Tricia Gregoretti said last week at New Springville's ball field while watching her 6-year-old son play. "It just doesn't make sense." New Springville league President Luis Mojica expressed dismay that a lawsuit would target a program that introduces youngsters to the national pastime. "All we do is provide a place for kids to play," said Mojica. "We're a community service." He added that New Springville meets Little League safety standards, including the required foam bases that lessen the risk of injuries to players. Bernstein was also surprised by the suit. "I've been coaching for over 20 years, and have instructed players in the various skills required to play baseball, including sliding," he said. "Unfortunately, injuries happen. That's part of the game." Despite the exhaustive training, injuries do occur, said Little League Baseball spokesman Chris Downs. "You can instruct players thoroughly on techniques. That does not necessarily mean that the proper technique will be used in a game," he said. Downs stressed the low number of Little League injuries. An average of 10,000 games are played each night and less than 1 percent of injuries that occur require medical treatment at a hospital, Downs said. Source... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracie12 Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Oh man, is there anything that someone hasnt been sued over? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 It's getting absolutely ridiculous. I'm hoping that this parent gets stuck with an hefty legal bill just to teach them and others a lesson of common sense! If the kid doesn't know how to slide, he doesn't have to slide. If he does as he's seen pros do it, it's at his own risks. It would be like a hockey mom suing a hockey coach because her son went down to block a shot and broke his foot, suing for not teaching him how to do it properly! Some people should leave their kids in their glass bubble and never let them out I guess. Poor kid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracie12 Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 It's getting absolutely ridiculous. I'm hoping that this parent gets stuck with an hefty legal bill just to teach them and others a lesson of common sense! If the kid doesn't know how to slide, he doesn't have to slide. If he does as he's seen pros do it, it's at his own risks.It would be like a hockey mom suing a hockey coach because her son went down to block a shot and broke his foot, suing for not teaching him how to do it properly! Some people should leave their kids in their glass bubble and never let them out I guess. Poor kid! Totally. Im sure we'll hear about some kid suing because he broke his leg after trying to break a bat across his knee like some of the pros, when he didnt hit a homer. You have to feel sorry for the kid though, Im sure he's getting teased something awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bobineau Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 I stopped reading after Staten Island... The fact that this lawsuit is in the US makes this story totally unsurprising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 I stopped reading after Staten Island... The fact that this lawsuit is in the US makes this story totally unsurprising. Oh I've seen some pretty damn stupid lawsuits in Canada as well. It's not as bad here, but we're close. There's just 1/10 of the people, so we don't see these truly bizarre ones once in awhile I feel most sorry for the coach. I really feel sorry for some of these people who help out with childrens sports, or any activity, just to have parents go crazy. My sister was an ump in girls softball before. She was maybe 14 or something at the time, umping like 10 year olds. After the season, she said she'd never do it again mainly due to all the crap she had to put up with from the parents. Truly unfortunate ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest baxus Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 well, parents can be such idiots sometimes... in an ice hall in my neighborhood there is a board that states rules that parents must obey at all times... and i'm 100% certain that it is there for a reason... and it's all perfectly normal stuff!!! like: - parents are not allowed to swear and curse the ref - parents are not allowed to yell at their kids and things like that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Iceman1509 Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 Combining the two favorite American pasttimes. We just need some guns added and its a carnival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 29Dryden29 Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 This sounds like the family suing Mc Donalds in teh US because a staff member stashed his pot and pipe in a happy meal box and somone filled it with a happy meal and a id got it totally snesless law suits I tell ya. http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pa...Y&pageId=1.1.1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs_fan1160 Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 What in the world... All this suing everyone over everything makes me want to sue. Getting rich no a days is as simple as spilling a hot beverage on your lap. Or sucking at base running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 What in the world... All this suing everyone over everything makes me want to sue. Getting rich no a days is as simple as spilling a hot beverage on your lap. Or sucking at base running. I could even see maybe suing to get the Little League to cover his medical expenses if they didn't have insurance, that at least borderline makes sense. But there's probably an additional million for pain and suffering or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs_fan1160 Posted May 23, 2007 Report Share Posted May 23, 2007 I could even see maybe suing to get the Little League to cover his medical expenses if they didn't have insurance, that at least borderline makes sense. But there's probably an additional million for pain and suffering or something. I can't even see that - it's little league. Chances are the coaches are volunteers, not professionals. If this kid is (pardon the bluntness) too stupid to figure out how to slide into a base then he definately shouldn't be playing sports. Perhaps he should join a Lego building club or something. Honestly, it doesn't take a lot of smarts to figure it out. I played baseball when I was a kid, and we never learned how to slide - it was more or less common sense. I mean really - think about it. Even if you do slide properly sometimes you still get hurt. But if this kids mom has a tape of this kid sliding - I'd like to see it because I think it'd be pretty challenging to slide "wrong" and it may be humours to watch - You Tube anyone? lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 I can't even see that - it's little league. Chances are the coaches are volunteers, not professionals. If this kid is (pardon the bluntness) too stupid to figure out how to slide into a base then he definately shouldn't be playing sports. Perhaps he should join a Lego building club or something. Honestly, it doesn't take a lot of smarts to figure it out. I played baseball when I was a kid, and we never learned how to slide - it was more or less common sense. I mean really - think about it. Even if you do slide properly sometimes you still get hurt. But if this kids mom has a tape of this kid sliding - I'd like to see it because I think it'd be pretty challenging to slide "wrong" and it may be humours to watch - You Tube anyone? lol. No I said suing the league, not the coach. To me it kind of makes sense that if they have hundreds of thousands in medical bills and maybe don't have a lot of money, they don't want to go far into debt in order to pay it off. I have no idea if this is the case or not, but it's not quite as bad as using this as a way to get rich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs_fan1160 Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 No I said suing the league, not the coach. To me it kind of makes sense that if they have hundreds of thousands in medical bills and maybe don't have a lot of money, they don't want to go far into debt in order to pay it off. I have no idea if this is the case or not, but it's not quite as bad as using this as a way to get rich. You would think though - a good parent in the states would splurge the 50$ a month for medical coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 29Dryden29 Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 You would think though - a good parent in the states would splurge the 50$ a month for medical coverage. 50 a month isn't good medical coverage some of our friends are paying over 350 a month for decent not great but decent medical insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs_fan1160 Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 50 a month isn't good medical coverage some of our friends are paying over 350 a month for decent not great but decent medical insurance. Even so, that would be the responsible thing to do if you're a parent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gumper Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 A boy's parent is now suing his math teahcer after he poked out his eye with a compass. She says the teahcer did not properly show him how to use it, so he figured sticking it in his eye would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs_fan1160 Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 A boy's parent is now suing his math teahcer after he poked out his eye with a compass. She says the teahcer did not properly show him how to use it, so he figured sticking it in his eye would work. Lol, you know even though it's made up - in today's world it sounds pretty believable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted May 24, 2007 Report Share Posted May 24, 2007 Lol, you know even though it's made up - in today's world it sounds pretty believable. ya it took me a second to catch that he made it up lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 29Dryden29 Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Well another idiot is suing over the death of his son. This time it is Hancock's dad he is suing the restaurant that served him his drinks so what next is he going to track down his dealer and sue him next for selling him his pot??? http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=208744&hubname= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Well another idiot is suing over the death of his son. This time it is Hancock's dad he is suing the restaurant that served him his drinks so what next is he going to track down his dealer and sue him next for selling him his pot??? http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=208744&hubname= Okay that one tops the one JL posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs_fan1160 Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Sometimes this whole sueing thing really pays off. The woman that spilled the hot coffee on herself - she won that case. So I think I'll jump on the bandwagon and sue for something. I know, I'll sue the Habs for emotional distress after they failed to make the playoffs this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 29Dryden29 Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 Okay that one tops the one JL posted. What a joke he is also now naming the people who's car broke down and the tow truck company for not getting his truck out of the way and the people for not maintaining the car they were driving. Talk about idiotic. I am sorry his son died but he did so after he himself went drinking and then knowingly climbed into his vehicle and drove. I hope the judge that hears this case laughs at teh guy and tells him to get the hell out of his courtroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmash Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 What a joke he is also now naming the people who's car broke down and the tow truck company for not getting his truck out of the way and the people for not maintaining the car they were driving. Talk about idiotic. I am sorry his son died but he did so after he himself went drinking and then knowingly climbed into his vehicle and drove. I hope the judge that hears this case laughs at teh guy and tells him to get the hell out of his courtroom. It's sad his son died, but isn't it just plain wrong to use his sons death as a personal way to get rich. I'm guessing he's not planning to give it all to charity either. Some people will do anything to get rich, including exploiting their own sons death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 29Dryden29 Posted May 25, 2007 Report Share Posted May 25, 2007 It's sad his son died, but isn't it just plain wrong to use his sons death as a personal way to get rich. I'm guessing he's not planning to give it all to charity either. Some people will do anything to get rich, including exploiting their own sons death. Ya and I am sure his son was allready very very well off being a pitcher in teh majours for teh Cardinals so I am sure they don't need the money either that makes it even more sickening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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