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Little League baseball coach sues player after being injured during postgame celebration

Suit says 14-year-old boy "carelessly threw a helmet, striking Plaintiff's Achilles tendon and tearing it."

By Evan Bleier
Little league baseball players (File/UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)
Little league baseball players (File/UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) | License Photo

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A California Little League baseball coach has filed a civil summons in Placer County Superior Court against a 14-year-old player alleging that he was injured by the boy during a game-winning run.

According to the boy’s father, Joe Paris, his son tossed off his helmet as he ran toward home plate, scoring the winning run in a Lakeside Little League game last spring.

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"He was so excited," Paris said.

In court papers, coach Alan Beck says the boy "carelessly threw a helmet, striking Plaintiff's Achilles tendon and tearing it." Beck is seeking $500,000 for pain and suffering, as well as more than $100,000 for lost wages and medical bills.

"At first I thought it was joke," Paris said. "Now, I think it's absurd. I've already spent over $4,000 and we haven't even been in a courtroom yet.”

Legal expert Bill Portanova indicated that children are liable for their actions under California law. "If he deliberately hurt somebody, then it's a stronger case and a stronger case that his parents could be held liable, but kids playing a kids' game in a contact sport -- and baseball is a contact sport -- that's going to be a tougher case," Portanova said.

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A judge is expected to hear the case in March.

[KCRA] [WYFF]

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