NFL kicker sues Bucs for premises liability over MRSA infection

Whenever groups of people have to share facilities at a sports club in New York or elsewhere, they expect to be safe from health and infection hazards. Property owners of such facilities are responsible for ensuring hygienic change rooms and showers that are free of infectious bacteria that can spread through sports teams within days. When professional athletes suffer such infections, they may not be able to continue playing the sports that provide their incomes. A former NFL kicker recently filed a premises liability claim in another state against the Buccaneers, alleging a lack of proper sanitary management.

In the lawsuit, the kicker claims to have lost large amounts of money due to an MRSA infection contracted at the Bucs’ facilities. The outbreak of MRSA apparently occurred in Aug. 2013 and ultimately affected the plaintiff and two other players. Together with the National Football League Players Association, the kicker lodged a grievance two months later, alleging the Buccaneers failed to handle his medical situation properly.

The plaintiff claims that, by Oct. 2013, his MRSA infection resurfaced, and says a scheduled game was almost postponed due to the situation. He accuses the Bucs of concealing continuing occurrences of individuals being infected after visiting the facilities. The providers of treatment for the plaintiff’s infection are also accused of failure to ensure sterility of surfaces and the devices and equipment used during therapy sessions.

The plaintiff seeks $20 million, claiming the MRSA infection caused the end of his career. New York residents who have suffered personal injury as the result of unsterile and unhygienic practices at sports clubs or gyms may pursue premises liability claims. With properly documented evidence of negligence, along with the successful presentation of such claims in a civil court, victims may be awarded monetary judgments to compensate for medical expenses and other documented losses as allowed by applicable laws.

Source: CBS Sports, “Ex-Bucs kicker suing team for $20M over career-ending MRSA infection“, Will Brinson, April 7, 2015