Wrestler sues Blue Springs school, officials

A Blue Springs High School wrestler has filed a lawsuit against the school district seeking thousands of dollars in compensation for injuries that he says were sustained in mixed martial arts-style fighting that was supervised by an assistant coach.

According to The Examiner, Samuel Gomez filed the lawsuit on Aug. 27, alleging that he had suffered two broken teeth and had had another tooth knocked out in a fight in October 2008 in the school’s wrestling room.

Gomez, who was a sophomore at the time, says in the lawsuit that his injuries stemmed from a fight that happened on a day when preseason practice had been canceled.

Mixed martial arts fighting involves forms of boxing, grappling and jiu-jitsu.

In a video broadcast on KMBC on Wednesday’s newscast, young men, some dressed in shorts with the school colors of purple and gold, pummeled each other while wearing sparring gloves. The grainy footage did not show Gomez and was perhaps shot during a similar incident, but the words “BLUE SPRINGS” can clearly be seen on a background wall.

According to the lawsuit, the wrestlers were supervised by Blue Springs assistant coach James Williamson when they took part in the extreme fighting and that coaches were aware of other, similar fights.

After the fight, Gomez, according to the lawsuit, needed oral surgery that exceeded $7,000 to fix his broken teeth. The suit says that Gomez expects to spend at least $20,000 for future procedures.

Along with Williamson, the lawsuit lists Blue Springs wrestling head coach Michael Hagerty, activities director Tom Round, principal Dave Adams and superintendent Paul Kinder as defendants.

Gomez and his family are also asking for compensatory damages of $25,000 due to negligent supervision and negligence.

On Wednesday, attempts to reach the Gomez family and their attorney, Daniel Baylard, were unsuccessful. Also, messages left for Hagerty and Round were not returned.

submitted by CANDACE BUCKNER - 2009-10-07 23:06:02

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