Wrestler Sues High School Over MMA Fight at School
by Kid Nate on Oct 14, 2009 9:00 AM EDT
in News
68 comments
I'm really glad I didn't go to high school in the MMA era:
Samuel Gomez, a junior and former member of the wrestling team at Blue Springs, filed the lawsuit that seeks damages in excess of $25,000 against the school district. According to the lawsuit, around Oct. 1, 2008, a preseason workout was canceled, but some wrestlers remained in the practice room. One team member pulled out MMA-style sparring gloves while another young man shot video footage of wrestlers partaking in an MMA fight.
According to Dan Baylard, the Gomez family’s attorney, a Blue Springs assistant wrestling coach, James Williamson, watched and cheered.
...
During his fight, Gomez suffered two broken teeth, and another tooth was knocked out. Later that night, Gomez spent two hours in a dentist’s chair, had a rod placed in his mouth and later needed two root-canal surgeries that cost more than $7,000. Gomez’s family expects to spend at least $20,000 more on future surgeries.
Video of students fighting MMA style at Blue Springs High School (HT Anton Tabuena):
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Holy shit! My high school made news on sherdog…bad news! What the hell’s goin on over there. Anybody read about it? A kid suing BSHS?
by Anton Tabuena on Oct 14, 2009 9:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
http://tinyurl.com/yftwqhg Clip of 2 kids fightin at Blue Springs High School.if u cld see clear u cld c my name on sum of those banners.lol
by Anton Tabuena on Oct 14, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Either he’s ignorant or just out to make a buck.
by Ahhhoki on Oct 14, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can it be both?
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
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by funnytiger on Oct 14, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
or maybe
his parents are pissed that they’re footing the bill for a injuries suffered while participating in a dangerous activity they didn’t give permission for.
Sounds like he wasn’t wearing a mouth piece.
Any coach that lets kids fight MMA in class is the definition of irresponsible, especially with 4 oz gloves.
IF kids are going to be allowed to do MMA, they should have to do it like they did boxing back in my day — big gloves, mouthpieces, headgear.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Oct 14, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
/\ What Kid Nate Said
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Oct 14, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That video is pretty horrifying. I defy anybody to watch it and think that this should be tolerated by authority figures at a school.
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Oct 14, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That wrestling coach is an idiot, and the school deserves to get sued for having him on staff.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Oct 14, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually...
He has a pretty good case. The coach sitting around WATCHING makes this a sure fire win for the parents.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 14, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that’s pure idiocy by the coach. WTF was he thinking? Actually, he probably wasn’t thinking at all.
I love me some Sexyama!
by pud333 on Oct 14, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think High Schoolers are capable of critical thinking. I’m sure it’s the parents flipping out, not the kid. It’s not like the coaches decided to do this as a part of practice. It was extracirricular and was something the kids voluntarily participated in. I used to do these kinds of things when I was younger and when we got hurt, we didn’t sue the school. Sure, it’s stupid and irresponsible.
by Ahhhoki on Oct 14, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We all did stupid things in high school, that’s not the point. What stupid things did you do that officials from your high school watched and allowed to happen?
by Jahbulon on Oct 14, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There’s a reason you need a waiver if you’re under 18. That’s a law. If you don’t follow the law, you get sued. Those high schoolers may have been capable of critical thinking, but their coach sure as shit wasn’t when he let them use school facilities under his supervision to engage in activities they were untrained for and didn’t have the proper safety equipment for.
Pay that kid’s parents their money and be glad no one got more seriously injured.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Oct 14, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so he lost a fight?
Its called Fight Club. every school does it. Was he forced to fight? was it his first time at Fight Club?
He prob wanted to fight, lost, and his mom got upset and is taking the school to court.
by Td9d on Oct 14, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Every school does it?
Where the hell did you go to school?
by ricker2005 on Oct 14, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Texas.
i went to school around 2000, before MMA’s rebirth, so we boxed.
by Td9d on Oct 14, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and if there was a teacher watching that fight your school would get sued also.
by Phildo on Oct 14, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gym teachers do it all the time
Their lives are boring, so if there’s a fight, they just let it happen and write the students up afterwards. I got into a fight once, the coach stopped the game so that the entire class could watch, then laughed when I slammed the kid into the ground and resumed the game.
High school kids are gonna fight, it happens. Trying to stop it will never work
by Shaun32887 on Oct 14, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is moronic
there is a difference between trying to stop it and encouraging it.
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by Kid Nate on Oct 14, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which I am sure the lawsuit will examine in full.
Regardless, I’m sure the teacher has a responsibility to try and stop fights anyhow.
by Razreshat on Oct 14, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not physically stop it.
But this is a whole different deal. This falls more into negligence – the coach knew a dangerous activity was happening, and did nothing to even verbally warn the students to stop.
"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK
by duck on Oct 14, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I should clarify
I’m not saying it’s right, I’m just saying what happens
by Shaun32887 on Oct 14, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and if that happened today the teacher, school, and everyone else that could be sued would be sued.
by Phildo on Oct 14, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess he was lucky he did not get sued eather. I know dam well if the teachers union found out he would probably of lost his Job.
by Shocbomb on Oct 14, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll disagree
As a HS teacher, I’ve stopped fights before they’ve happened, and I’ve stopped fights after they happened.
As far as teachers not stopping fights, well, here’s what we’re told in my county:
Rule #1: Secure other students away from the fight. Keep non-combatants safe and away from the fight.
Rule #2: Alert administration
We’re told if we think we can safely separate the combatants to do so, but we are not required to. The law varies according to each state, but that’s a pretty standard approach.
And for the record, guy fights are BY FAR the easiest to break up. Two girls? Man, blood and weaves everywhere. You practically gotta break a bone to get them to quit. I don’t jump in girl fights.
"I would approve signing a pitcher that ate kitten tacos if he won 20 games a year." -BPinOK
by duck on Oct 14, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Never try to stop a girl fight ’cause in the process of trying to pry them away from each other, your hands might brush up against an inappropriate part of their body….then THOSE TWO will turn around and have YOU fired from the School and arrested for Molestation.
If I was a Gym Teacher, and a Girl’s fight broke out? I’d rather let them kill each other rather than lose my freedom. Just saying…
by BNTHIS on Oct 15, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my school did, in CT. We had “locker boxing” which was football helmets and lacrosse gloves. Then some up and coming kids started K1 style fights, bare knuckles, hosted at a park in the woods, and all posted on youtube (they have since been taken down)
by ryanwk628 on Oct 14, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s the school responsibility to not allow this to happen.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Oct 14, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The kid is under 18
That is the rub. A coach can’t let minors participate without permission.
If anyone has joined a gym, minors have to get parents to sign a release to participate.
This is why.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
by aaronb on Oct 14, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More seriously you guys are deranged! I wouldn’t fight without a mouth piece, that’s moronic, except if I want to test the solidity of my front tooth or I have no other choice.
You don't look like a Tanaka.
by spectaa on Oct 14, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
mma? really?
im tired of the media calling it an “mma fight” every time two idiots decide to put on four ounce gloves and beat each other up. its a big part of the negative publicity the sport still has to endure.
by masteroftheflyingguillotine on Oct 14, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
more accurate than UFC fight at least
by bigweeze on Oct 14, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The sad part is
MMA detractors are gonna jump all over this story saying that MMA is corrupting highschool kids, not drugs, not alcohol, not stupid coaches but MMA
by IRodC on Oct 14, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
are some of you guys defending this fight club in a school?? wtf?
“was he forced to fight?”
maybe we should tell every 13 year old girl that gets fucked by a grown man, it was her own damn fault she wanted it….. some of these comments are fucked….
by yin hsiung on Oct 14, 2009 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There is a vast difference in two kids volunteering to fight for fun and a minor being forced upon by a grown man. I think your comment is pretty ignorant. If the coach didn’t force him then the kid made a bad decision. The coach and school have liability but its a far cry from the analogy you gave. Had he won or suffered no damage we probably wouldn’t be hearing about it. But he lost so now the school is getting sued. And the school should be getting sued.
by swells2048 on Oct 14, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
What the hell man?
This is nothing more than a glorified high school fight, they happen all the time. Nothing is new here, this is NOT comparable to 13 year old rape.
by Shaun32887 on Oct 14, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope not even close. i dont condone the fight club but comparing it to a 13 year old getting raped is like comparing the ww2 to ozzy osbourne pissing on a landmark one is far worse then the other.
by Riley_96 on Oct 14, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you must not be from Texas
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by Kid Nate on Oct 14, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they were in high school, very close to being able to fight professionally, and old enough to drive a car, hold a job, and close to military service, old enough to know this stuff can be dangerous. weird the first thing you thought of was raping a 13 year old.
by masteroftheflyingguillotine on Oct 14, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s weird ‘cause you have to wonder what goes on in a person’s head when he posts something like this….maybe this poster is hiding something?
by BNTHIS on Oct 15, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what a bunch of dumbies
i dont know who is dumber the kids for doing this shit in the wrestling room or the coach for sitting and watching
this kind of stuff happened when i wrestled in hs but we had the common sense to only do it off the matts where nobody would see us doing it in the dorms. was it stupid, of course it was.
our national prep all american at 130 vs the basketball teams division 1 prospect at 6-6
but lest we forget that boys are boys and boys are gonna do stupid ass shit and boys are gonna fight. these kids are dumb but im not shocked at all
by bearcox13 on Oct 14, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd say the coach.
Though not a lot of brains went into this operation, I think pretty much everybody can agree that “Don’t knowingly let students endanger themselves or each other” is the basic Prime Directive for a school district employee. I wouldn’t call for the guy’s head if it was a case of the kids doing this with nobody around, but when you endorse and allow that stuff you’re both screwed and an idiot.
50% more Ultimate than the leading competitor.
by Dodectagon on Oct 14, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta go coach as well. High schoolers pull this shit. That's why there's coaches there, ostensibly.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Oct 14, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fire the coach that was watching, suspend the head coach for letting this happen. Suspend all kids that fought, even the one suing the school. That kid has every right to sue the school for damages but the school still needs to suspend him for being an idiot.
BTW, typical wrestler stuff on the ground. No guard and giving up their back. Lucky it wasn’t worse.
by Reciprocity on Oct 14, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow, the coach is a f*cking moron for letting this go on.
by MMAEruption on Oct 14, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wait, the root canals are not from the fight am i wrong?
by pop_gun_war on Oct 14, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You are wrong. When you get hit hard enough in a tooth, the tooth dies. A root canal is necessary to remove the dead nerve (assuming you don’t want to pull the tooth). The danger of having necrotic an inch from your brain is obvious.
by Jahbulon on Oct 14, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah thanks. i always thought root canals came froma highly infected and decayed tooth. enlightening.
by pop_gun_war on Oct 14, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Getting hit to hard has nothing to do with why a tooth dies at all .A tooth dies when the nerve dies buy infection. pretty much not treating a abscessed tooth. Sure if that hit caused a chip or crack and bacteria gets in and you don’t treat the infection with antibiotics and a trip to the dentist you tooth can die.
by Shocbomb on Oct 14, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, Im sure all these kids are really into MMA. It has done wonders for the sport of wrestling and legitimized it in the eyes of high school kids. All my brothers wrestler friends are really into the UFC now and wear “fight gear” all the time. Im not surprised these kids wanted to do this… but am shocked the coach let it happen.
Dumb.
by ryanwk628 on Oct 14, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dumbasses.
Keep firing Assholes!
Never trust a man with no shirt on.
by Ubernoober on Oct 14, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sure, this kinda stuff happened at my school, but it was finished at the park down the street. You say this stuff happens in Texas school’s all the time, you should focus more on reading and writing, it might have alerted you to your own state laws.
by bubbafat on Oct 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
no Texas bashing
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by Kid Nate on Oct 14, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If kids want to do MMA in school make it an sport they can compete in, at least then it will be regulated and proper gear will be worn. I would never spar without a mouth piece, i wear a mouth piece even when i grapple (partly because my jaw dislocates and locks alot but w/e). Some wil say that it should be kept out of the schools but if they make it a school sport, at least the propler gear will be around to protect the kids.
I know it will never happen due to the violent nature of the sport, butits a suggestion
by Riley_96 on Oct 14, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The coach was stupid for putting himself in this situation, but its the kids’ fault and this is a frivilous lawsuit.
by Dropkick434 on Oct 14, 2009 2:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It’s not frivolous at all.
If the kid got hurt while wrestling at wrestling practice, the school’s insurance would help cover some of the costs. Since the kid got hurt fighting at wrestling practice with the coach watching, someone is going to have to pay for this shit.
by Phildo on Oct 14, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Frivolous"
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
If the fight was on school property and permitted – if not orchestrated by – school employees, then the school is legally responsible.
I finish beers at 1:55.
by ihateemo on Oct 14, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
These kids sucked at fighting, what an embarassment.
for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.
by Bandaka on Oct 14, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He should sue
Even if he was a willing participant, HE’S IN HIGHSCHOOL, meaning he’s basically a kid, He didn’t know what he was doing and obviously pride was involved negating common sense. How can the superviser be there and allow this to happen? they obviously didn’t have mouthpieces and there was no one ref-ing the fight to prevent illegal moves such as shots to the back of the head, spine and kidney. This is stupid. Were do they get these idiot teachers. Of course when one of them goes home missing 3 teeth there are gonna be problems. DUH
by J_Maddux on Oct 15, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Okay...
I get the negation of common sense, but he was well aware of what he was doing. What else would you put MMA gloves on for? Baking? Yes, stupidity ran rampant, but doing something dumb is not the same as not knowing what he was doing. A baby accidentally kicking you in the nuts is an example of someone not know what he was doing. A high school boy putting on 4oz gloves and agreeing to fight another boy even if taunted, coerced, or what have you, should be fully aware of what he’s doing. Just like the first time you got in a school yard scrap with the bully when you were in elementary school, you knew you were about to fight. So sue the school and coaches and everyone else, but not’s pretend that this kid is somen special needs student that just happened to get caught in a fight he had no idea was about to go down.
by black dragon on Oct 15, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They knew what they were doing
What good is suing going to do? It’s going to teach him that personal responsibility means nothing and there’s nothing he can do that he can’t blame on someone else.
He knew what he was doing; he needs to learn that stupid decisions will carry consequences with them.
by Shaun32887 on Oct 17, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is he retarded?
He partakes in an MMA match and then sues when he gets the crap beat out of him. That’s like if you sue a boxing organization cause you lost.
by ontite on Oct 17, 2009 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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