Collingwood fan sues over broken arm.
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:01 pmFrom Adelaide Now,
Footy fan, 80, sues over broken arm
May 11, 2008 12:30am
AN elderly Collingwood fan is suing the Melbourne Cricket Club after suffering a broken arm when a player allegedly punted a Sherrin into the crowd.
Patricia Sims, 80, had not even seen the first bounce when she was allegedly hit by a ball at the MCG.
Ms Sims missed out on seeing her beloved Magpies beat the Kangaroos by three points on March 31 last year.
In a statement of claim lodged with the County Court on April 30, Ms Sims demands cash for medical bills and home help.
She claims the incident happened during the pre-match warm up when "a number of footballs were kicked into the public seating area at the premises".
Neither the offending player nor the club is identified.
Ms Sims suffered a fractured right arm requiring surgery and had so far spent more than $12,000 on medical expenses, the claim states.
The bill has been paid for by the Department of Veterans' Affairs but will have to be repaid, the claim says.
Ms Sims also needs ongoing hospital and medical services and home help, it says.
The Melbourne Cricket Club was negligent on several grounds, the claim asserts, including failing to prevent patrons being being hit by footballs.
Ms Sims, a well-known Collingwood fan whose home in the Bendigo suburb of Kangaroo Flat even includes a concrete 30cm tall Magpie at her front door, did not wish to comment over the action, a family member said yesterday.
An AFL spokesman said nets were now erected behind the goals when players were warming up and practising goal kicking.
"The nets come down three minutes before the game starts and if a player continues to kick at goal after the nets come down or deliberately kicks into the crowd, the club can face a heavy sanction," he said.
MCC chief Stephen Gough said the AFL set the rules for the pre-match warm-up.
If there was a spate of injuries caused by footballs hitting spectators, the situation would be reviewed by the MCC and the AFL, he said.
Patrons being injured at the MCG "happen from time to time", including people falling on steps, as well as Mrs Sims' case, Mr Gough said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 10,00.html
Footy fan, 80, sues over broken arm
May 11, 2008 12:30am
AN elderly Collingwood fan is suing the Melbourne Cricket Club after suffering a broken arm when a player allegedly punted a Sherrin into the crowd.
Patricia Sims, 80, had not even seen the first bounce when she was allegedly hit by a ball at the MCG.
Ms Sims missed out on seeing her beloved Magpies beat the Kangaroos by three points on March 31 last year.
In a statement of claim lodged with the County Court on April 30, Ms Sims demands cash for medical bills and home help.
She claims the incident happened during the pre-match warm up when "a number of footballs were kicked into the public seating area at the premises".
Neither the offending player nor the club is identified.
Ms Sims suffered a fractured right arm requiring surgery and had so far spent more than $12,000 on medical expenses, the claim states.
The bill has been paid for by the Department of Veterans' Affairs but will have to be repaid, the claim says.
Ms Sims also needs ongoing hospital and medical services and home help, it says.
The Melbourne Cricket Club was negligent on several grounds, the claim asserts, including failing to prevent patrons being being hit by footballs.
Ms Sims, a well-known Collingwood fan whose home in the Bendigo suburb of Kangaroo Flat even includes a concrete 30cm tall Magpie at her front door, did not wish to comment over the action, a family member said yesterday.
An AFL spokesman said nets were now erected behind the goals when players were warming up and practising goal kicking.
"The nets come down three minutes before the game starts and if a player continues to kick at goal after the nets come down or deliberately kicks into the crowd, the club can face a heavy sanction," he said.
MCC chief Stephen Gough said the AFL set the rules for the pre-match warm-up.
If there was a spate of injuries caused by footballs hitting spectators, the situation would be reviewed by the MCC and the AFL, he said.
Patrons being injured at the MCG "happen from time to time", including people falling on steps, as well as Mrs Sims' case, Mr Gough said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 10,00.html
The MCC would have public liability insurance to cover it.