An insurance insider has observed that sports insurance lawsuits are targeting fewer teams and instead are now focusing more on individual players, coaches, and even volunteers.
Plaintiffs have started “fanning out” claims in recent years, Melissa LaRocca of GameDay Insurance told
CBC News, but it remains to be seen whether the tactic proves to be successful.
Although LaRocca said more individuals are being named in sports insurance lawsuits, she has not seen an increase in the number of cases being filed in court.
“How it ends, I’m not too sure. But we do see the initial notices of loss from lawyers listing all parties involved,” she said.
She also observed that sports organizations and volunteers appear to have more responsibility to supervise child athletes or players than in the past.
“Nowadays, if you do anything, you’re responsible. If you’re a parent volunteer, you’re responsible for those children.”
“It’s not as simple as it used to be,” LaRocca added. “It just so happens now people are just claiming more and suing more and just wanting more. I don’t know why or what has changed.”
LaRocca’s comments come after a hotel operator sued a youth hockey association in BC. The hotel not only named the Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association, but 60 unidentified parents and players, as well as a team representative.
The hotel claimed in its suit that one or more players kicked or pushed a hotel ice machine while attending a hockey tournament in early 2016, which led to a ruptured water line and $200,000 in damages.
CBC News reported that none of the allegations have been proven in court, and no statement of defense has been filed yet.
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