Primrose v. Amelia Little League
Texas Court of Appeals
990 S.W.2d 819 (1999)
- Written by Steven Pacht, JD
Facts
The Lumberton All Star team played a youth baseball game against the Amelia All Star team. After the game, two Lumberton players, Larry Primrose II and Chad Hampshire, suffered injuries when they were attacked in the nearby parking lot with bats and other objects by several Amelia players. Larry’s parents, Larry Primrose and Lorna Primrose (Primroses), and Chad’s parents, Bobby Hampshire and Winnie Hampshire (Hampshires) (collectively, plaintiffs), sued the Amelia Little League (league) (defendant) on various theories premised on, among other things, the league’s (1) failure to control the Amelia players and (2) negligence in not preventing the attack despite alleged escalating threats by the Amelia players against the Lumberton players during the game. The league moved for summary judgment, arguing that it had no duty to control the Amelia players and that it had not acted negligently. In response, Bobby Hampshire submitted an affidavit describing the alleged threats and claiming that during the game he asked the home-plate umpire to ask Amelia’s coaches and manager to take action and that after the game he directly asked Amelia’s manager to take action. However, the league’s president submitted an affidavit stating that there was nothing unusual about the game except he heard discussions about racial slurs uttered by Lumberton players against Amelia’s players and that he was not warned about a possible attack in the parking lot. The league also submitted unrebutted evidence that the Amelia players and their parents were not the league’s employees or agents and that the Amelia players were not paid by the league and did not transact business for the league. In addition, no evidence was presented that Amelia’s coaches or manager represented the league. The trial court granted summary judgment to the league. The Primroses and Hampshires appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Stover, J.)
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