Florida Supreme Court rules for UCF in case of football player's death

Author Photo
UCF coach George O'Leary

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the UCF Athletics Association, the private corporation that runs the Knights athletic program, does not have to pay Ereck Plancher's family $10 million it was awarded after the football player's death during practice in 2008.

By a 6-0 vote (with one recusal), first reported by The Associated Press, the state's high court upheld a lower court ruling that the UCF Athletic Association should receive the same "sovereign immunity" that protects Florida's state agencies from having to pay more than $200,000 in legal damages.

Plancher collapsed and died after conditioning drills at the school's football complex in March 2008. He was 19.

Plancher's family, led by father Enock Plancher, claimed that negligence on the part of coach George O'Leary's UCF program led to Ereck's death and was awarded $10 million in a trial court. However, an appellate court overturned that ruling, saying the athletic association was covered by sovereign immunity.

In its ruling Thursday, the Supreme Court said, "Any amount over the statutory cap must be sought by the Planchers in a claim bill filed in the Florida Legislature.”

Author(s)
Bob Hille Photo

Bob Hille is a senior content consultant for The Sporting News.