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Illinois Hockey Trainer’s Negligence Claim Not Barred By ‘Contact-Sports’ Doctrine
A recent ruling by an Illinois Appellate Court reviewed whether the 'contact-sports' doctrine applies an independently contracted trainer who has been injured by an amateur sports player. The court overturned a ruling made by a lower court in the Illinois personal injury lawsuit.
The facts of the DuPage County case deal with a hockey trainer who brought an Illinois personal injury claim after sustaining permanent vision loss when he was struck in the eye by an errant hockey puck. The puck had been fired by an amateur hockey player who allegedly was "sniping" at bottles that were lined up on a nearby bench.
The DuPage County judge dismissed the trainer's allegations of willful and wanton conduct on behalf of the player and the amateur team as well as the two counts of negligence against both defendants. In doing so the judge cited that the actions on behalf of the defendants qualified as ordinary carelessness under the Illinois contact-sports doctrine.
However, the Illinois Appellate Court disagreed with the DuPage County judge and reversed the lower court's ruling, stating that the trainer's claim was not barred under the contact-sports doctrine.
Illinois Hockey Trainer’s Negligence Claim Not Barred By ‘Contact-Sports’ Doctrine
A recent ruling by an Illinois Appellate Court reviewed whether the 'contact-sports' doctrine applies an independently contracted trainer who has been injured by an amateur sports player. The court overturned a ruling made by a lower court in the Illinois personal injury lawsuit.
The facts of the DuPage County case deal with a hockey trainer who brought an Illinois personal injury claim after sustaining permanent vision loss when he was struck in the eye by an errant hockey puck. The puck had been fired by an amateur hockey player who allegedly was "sniping" at bottles that were lined up on a nearby bench.
The DuPage County judge dismissed the trainer's allegations of willful and wanton conduct on behalf of the player and the amateur team as well as the two counts of negligence against both defendants. In doing so the judge cited that the actions on behalf of the defendants qualified as ordinary carelessness under the Illinois contact-sports doctrine.
However, the Illinois Appellate Court disagreed with the DuPage County judge and reversed the lower court's ruling, stating that the trainer's claim was not barred under the contact-sports doctrine.
