Was the Barrow High School football field negligently designed?
An elderly women who was injured by players running out of bounds does not have a case against the school district for inadequately designing the football field sidelines. On August 17, 2007, spectator Helen Barton attended the Barrow High School football game at the Whalers’ new $500,000 Astroturf field. Since there was inadequate seating, Barton decided to watch the game from the sidelines. At one point during the game, several football players ran out of bounds during a play and collided with Barton. The collision caused Barton to fall and break her left leg and injure her left knee, back and hip.
Spectator claims the $500,000 Astroturf field was unsafe?
As a result of the incident, Barton sued the school district for negligently designing and operating a football field and failing to provide adequate barriers and warnings. Due to legal disputes with respect to the admissibility of expert testimony at trial, the lawsuit made its way to the Supreme Court of Alaska. However, the Supreme Court ultimately affirmed the jury decision and the school district was not liable for Barton’s injuries.
Incidentally, the Barrow Whalers defeated the Seward Seahawks 18-16. Barrows High School is located in Barrow, Alaska, in the northern most city in the U.S. (340 miles north of the Article Circle) with a sparse population of 4,212 (according to the 2010 census).
