The highest court in Massachusetts upheld a lower court decision that dismissed a lawsuit against a non profit sports organization due to a state immunity statute.
This lawsuit involved the 1998 tipping over of a soccer goal and resulting leg injury to a 12 year old boy. The boy sued the local association which was a member of the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association. The allegation was negligence on the part of the association for failure to properly secure the goal.
Even though the immunity statute was ultimately upheld in this case, the litigation dragged on for over ten years and undoubtedly very expensive. This is why sports organizations can’t rely on immunity statutes in lieu of General Liability insurance.
