Contending Attorneys Advise Rockwall District Student's Parents to File a Lawsuit Over Hospitalization Following Physical Exercise
In recent years, Texas schools have found themselves embroiled in legal disputes due to cases of rhabdomyolysis, a serious medical condition caused by extreme physical exertion. School districts and individual teachers or coaches may face legal consequences if they assign physically demanding punishments that lead to student injuries.
A striking example of this is the Rockwall Heath High School case, where coaches were found to have violated multiple district policies by assigning excessive workouts. These workouts resulted in a student's hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis. Despite an investigation confirming these violations and a lack of proper training among coaches regarding the condition, the district initially refused to reimburse the student's medical expenses. Teachers and coaches involved left their positions after the investigation began.
E.H., a student at Rockwall Heath High School, experienced nose bleeds and saw blood in her urine, symptoms indicative of rhabdomyolysis. During a workout, her arms started hurting, and when she expressed her discomfort to her teachers, they advised her to take pain medication and stretch.
The coaches accused in this case, Amanda Jones, Ryleigh Valladarez, and Kaley Stewart, allegedly assigned 50 burpees with pushups as punishment for the cheerleading class in October. E.H., who was sick with strep and had a doctor's note excusing her from exercise, was reportedly made to perform modified burpees with additional punishments if not done correctly.
In another incident, former head football coach John Harrell resigned after more than 20 football players were diagnosed with or showed symptoms of rhabdomyolysis following a workout punishment he and his coaching team assigned.
The legal landscape in these cases is complex. School districts often claim governmental immunity to avoid liability, but they can still face lawsuits, especially if policies are violated. Individual teachers or coaches may be found personally liable if they assign harmful workouts and act negligently. Proper training and policy compliance are crucial to prevent these legal consequences.
It's important to note that cases of rhabdomyolysis from abuse outside schools are criminally prosecuted, as opposed to school-related incidents where administrative and civil liability are primary concerns.
In the Rockwall Heath High School case, the district's investigation report stated that the coaches lacked training and knowledge about rhabdomyolysis. After a six-month appeal process, the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees allegedly concluded they didn't have enough evidence to reimburse E.H.'s parents for her medical expenses. The coaches have filed a motion to dismiss the suit filed by the cheerleader's parents, Robert and Misty Hanvey.
Attorneys for Rockwall-Heath's former head football coach John Harrell are making a similar legal argument in a lawsuit pending against him in Dallas County.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to district policies, providing adequate training regarding exercise risks, and avoiding punitive workouts that could harm students. The potential legal and health consequences make it clear that such actions are not worth the risk.
[1] Texas Tribune [2] Dallas Morning News [3] CBS DFW [4] Star-Telegram [5] ABC 8 Dallas
- The governmental immunity claim by school districts in rhabdomyolysis cases can be challenged, leading to lawsuits if policies are violated, as reported by news sources such as the Texas Tribune and Dallas Morning News.
- Proper education and self-development on fitness-and-exercise, health-and-wellness, and mental-health are vital for teachers and coaches to prevent causing harm to students, an issue highlighted in general-news outlets like CBS DFW and ABC 8 Dallas.
- Negligent coaching by individuals, as in the Rockwall Heath High School case, may lead to legal consequences for both the coaches involved and their employers, as covered by Star-Telegram.
- The impact of criminal justice system involvement in cases of rhabdomyolysis outside schools is distinct from that in school-related incidents, where emphasis lies on administrative and civil liability, according to CBSDFW.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, the legal landscape in the context of physical exertion, mental health, and other issues has created a heightened awareness of the responsibility educators carry toward students' well-being, with reporting from various sources including the Texas Tribune, Dallas Morning News, CBS DFW, Star-Telegram, and ABC 8 Dallas.
