KY TV sportscaster sues local HS

[MileHigh]

Exactly why I shut up in that situation. My best guess is he thought I was a parent or statistician with the team. But in the end it's like arguing with a cop over why you're being arrested for some minor infraction. You can plead your case to him, but once the cuffs are on you're still going to spend the night in jail.

And draw the ire of the coach and AD. Again, you don't know which Barney Fife is out there enforcing things wrong. Don't take the chance.

 

[dixiehack]

I too wonder if insurance is an issue or a catalyst here.

I strongly suspect so. Perhaps worker's comp is requiring him to subrogate the claim?

I've told the story in bits and pieces before on here, but my "career" as a videographer lasted until the opening kickoff of Week 2 my only season. Got run over when the return man went out of bounds and I couldn't get away in time. Fractured the bone below my kneecap. Had to have a plate and screws (still there), a passive movement machine to encase my leg in and six months of rehab before I regained full use.

I'm certain the medical bills went into six figures, even in 1998 dollars. But even though by all rights I probably qualified as a freelancer the station covered all my bills via worker's comp insurance. And if a dying station in Podunk had that in place, surely a Big 3 affiliate in a Top 50 market does too.

 

[Central-KY-Kid]

The twitter link includes the video in which he was allegedly hurt (with a protective fence right behind him had he chose to stand behind it).



Also:

 

[justgladtobehere]

I strongly suspect so. Perhaps worker's comp is requiring him to subrogate the claim?

I've told the story in bits and pieces before on here, but my "career" as a videographer lasted until the opening kickoff of Week 2 my only season. Got run over when the return man went out of bounds and I couldn't get away in time. Fractured the bone below my kneecap. Had to have a plate and screws (still there), a passive movement machine to encase my leg in and six months of rehab before I regained full use.

I'm certain the medical bills went into six figures, even in 1998 dollars. But even though by all rights I probably qualified as a freelancer the station covered all my bills via worker's comp insurance. And if a dying station in Podunk had that in place, surely a Big 3 affiliate in a Top 50 market does too.

Workers Comp insurers can't force a guy to sue. He would have an obligation to help in a subrogation matter, but beyond that nothing. Because the guy would get nothing out of a simple claim for benefits, he wouldn't be a named party. A WC insurers can only go for what was paid out. The insured employee can go after the difference in lost pay and what was received; pain and suffering; and a spouse or child would have have a claim for loss of consortium.

 

[MTM]

Our photographer got flagged at a JC football game. IIRC, she inadvertently wandered onto the field during a play.

At the same school, the coach's wife, who did stats, got flagged at least once a season for yapping at officials.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

The twitter link includes the video in which he was allegedly hurt (with a protective fence right behind him had he chose to stand behind it).



Also:

View attachment 14072

If that is in fact the play then it kills his "overcrowding on the sidelines" argument.

Having said that, there are few things I will trust less than a radio guy tweeting "this is allegedly the play."

 

[dixiehack]

Also, saying he should have stayed behind the fence with every random fan wandering to and from the concession stands breathing down his neck isn't the answer either (to say nothing of the fact that it limits the broadcast to goal line shots or nothing.)

 

[HanSenSE]

The school I covered at the Podunk Weekly Fishwrap didn't have a press box for the first couple of seasons I was there. Didn't have a problem working in the bench area since I was the hometown guy. Only time I got wiped out was on a kickoff return. Was watching the play end and got blindsided. Ankle hurt like heck all weekend. Hear everyone liked watching it on the game tape.

 

[exmediahack]

So we have the Zapruder film of this, apparently.

IF this is the play where Fred got hurt, he has no case. He's probably shot this same play 25,000 times in his career. You know, instinctually, when you need to bail on a play and back up and move away from the action.

This wasn't Montana-to-Clark and you're the only CBS camera that didn't go out on a power surge. Bail out of the play.

Also, didn't the news reports mention he claims the players off the bench came running out and that's where he got hurt? This video shows a non-scoring play.

 

[Central-KY-Kid]

So Fred did an interview last year shortly after the injury.

Sounds like he didn't appreciate the safety/separation fence because it blockades you from getting out of the way.

However, he said there were people on both sides of him and behind him and he had no where to go. Not sure I agree with that.

Amazon product ASIN

 

[exmediahack]

I wonder if he didn't get a good answer on workers comp. He works for Hearst, generally seen as the best company to work for in TV news.

 

[MileHigh]

As Ex said, if that's the film, he's got NO case. The most important line is the goal line. They're trying to get there. He's at the restricted line, but there is PLENTY of room behind him to the fence to be safe.