Family plans lawsuit against Valparaiso school district over football injury

Family plans lawsuit against Valparaiso school district over football injury

A Valparaiso family is preparing to sue a local school district, alleging it failed to properly treat their son after he was injured during football practice.

VALPARAISO, Ind. - A Valparaiso family is preparing to sue a local school district, alleging it failed to properly treat their son after he was injured during football practice.

Medical records the family shared with FOX Chicago show the student suffered a broken wrist and a concussion.

What we know:

The student is a freshman at Valparaiso High School. His right wrist is in a cast, and his family says the concussion is severe enough to cause balance problems and vision issues.

The family also says they have received death threats following the incident. 

Jason Solomon said the school was negligent after his son broke his wrist and hit his head on the fieldhouse floor during a football drill. Solomon said the head injury was later diagnosed as a concussion.

Solomon said no one from the school contacted him the night of the injury. He said he learned something was wrong only after his son texted him saying he did not feel well.

Solomon confronted coaches that night and was told his son would be fine and that the injury was limited to a sprained wrist. He said no one mentioned a possible head injury.

He also said neither football coaches nor training staff knew where his son was after practice. Solomon said he searched the school and found his son alone in a gym.

"I finally got him into the car and as I was pulling out, he just went forward. His neck went forward, his eyes, he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. So I'm holding onto the steering wheel, and I'm holding him, and I'm like ‘buddy please stay up… keep your eyes open,’" Solomon said. "He goes, ‘Dad, I’m not well. I don't feel well.' I said, ‘Buddy, we’re getting to the emergency room.'" 

What's next:

Valparaiso Community Schools Superintendent Andrea Robertson disputed Solomon’s claims, saying no injury was reported or observed during practice.

Robertson said the coach was notified after practice ended and took immediate action with the athletic trainer.

The lawsuit against Valparaiso Community Schools has not yet been finalized.