It’s always enjoyable when your hometown’s in the news, even if it’s for something as outrageous as a youth football referee being awarded a $275,000 settlement after he was tackled and thrown to the ground, fracturing his shoulder. This is all AFTER the referee threw the first punch, because this is Florida, and anything goes.
From the Sarasota Herald Tribune:
SARASOTA – A youth football referee who was tackled when a melee broke out among adults during a game and later filed a lawsuit has won a $275,000 settlement.
The fight at Sarasota’s Riverview High in 2011 was captured on video and went viral in the national media.
Jayme Ream, the referee from St. Petersburg, and his wife, Michelle, sued four organizations, including the Mid-Florida Youth Football and Cheerleading and the Sarasota County School Board.
On Aug. 27, 2011, the North Port Huskys were badly beating the Sarasota Gators in the youth football organization that rented facilities at Riverview High.
The Gators coaches misunderstood when Ream called a personal foul against the Huskys.
A North Port parent shot the video that showed how the scene escalated. During the fight, Ream was thrown to the ground and fractured his shoulder, and players rushed the field.
The incident resulted in felony battery charges against three Gators coaches and a player.
Ream threw the first punch, though sheriff’s officials determined he was legally defending himself as a coach charged him.
I get why the referee was awarded the settlement of $275,000…but come on. A) If they’re trying to send a message that the referees deserve to be protected, then making that settlement for a f-ck ton more…and B) They broke this ref’s collarebone, make the settlement for a f-ck ton more…or nothing at all.
For full details on the story you can check it out HERE on The Sarasota Herald Tribune.
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