San Francisco Injury Lawyer Blog

Why would school administrators and teachers allow their students to take part in a lunch time tackle football game, with no supervision and without any protective equipment?
The result was predictable, as one child suffered a significant knee injury that tore multiple ligaments and damaged cartilage and bone. The young man injured, who had his knee surgically repaired, now contemplates pain and a swollen knee with every activity for the rest of his life.

In this case, the school ignored a regularly played tackle football game that took place on the school athletic field during lunch hour. Boys and girls participated with no equipment, supervision or instruction. There was no effort to stop this game until after the injury occurred. A simple expression to the students that unsupervised, pick-up tackle football would not be tolerated on campus was all that was necessary in this case to have eliminated the injury, but that never occurred.

Particularly in a private school setting, social or peer pressures may play a role in deciding whether to take legal action. Of course the choice may depend upon the severity of the injury. Also be aware that time limitations can be a factor as well, depending upon whether the school is private or public. California public schools are typically entities that require a legal claim be filed with them or their District within 6 months of the injury.

Whether or not a serious injury experienced at school is worthy of litigation may depend upon whether the injury occurred on campus, during the school day or in the open. Prior knowledge of a dangerous condition among teachers and administrators will also be a factor. Teachers or administrators may not be guarantors of safety but they are expected to enforce reasonable safety rules and regulations and put a stop to dangerous events that they know or suspect are ongoing. Turning a blind eye to these situations is not acceptable.

Certain sports, including football should be played only with proper supervision, coaching and equipment. By the year 2009, this should be obvious to every school teacher and administrator.