Florida Jury Awards $4 Million To Boy Who Injured Arm During Game At School

Amy Rothschild

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On October 22, 2007, a Florida jury awarded $4 million to a boy from Tampa who suffered permanent damage to his arm during a pick-up football game at a private school. According to the lawsuit, school staff members were not supervising the game when another student jumped on the plaintiff's arm.

The boy, who was 12 years old at the time of the accident, broke his left arm in a schoolyard football game in which a ball is thrown up and the person catching it is tackled. The family also alleged there was no supervision, as the teachers had gone inside during recess on the day of the accident. The jury agreed that the school was negligent in failing to supervise the game.

The boy wants to be a surgeon like both of his parents, but with nerve damage in his arm, that may be difficult. The break was so bad it tore a nerve in his forearm, causing permanent injury. The boy has screws in his arm and there is some paralysis and deformity.

The parents of the boy said they hope the verdict prompts other schools to provide better supervision for their students.