North Idaho school sued over football injuries

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — A school district in north Idaho has been hit with a pair of lawsuits over injuries suffered by junior varsity football players.

The civil lawsuits were filed against the West Bonner County School District in 1st District Court, The Bonner County Daily Bee (http://bit.ly/tt7iVo ) reported Saturday.

One case alleges junior varsity coach Jake Stark tossed a full plastic water bottle at a player's face during a halftime pep talk, causing a laceration. The boy received first aid for the cut, but it was later determined he also suffered a concussion, the lawsuit states.

"They sent him out and played him in the second half," said Sandpoint attorney Brent Fetherston.

Stark, a teacher on staff at Priest River Lamanna High School, did not immediately return a phone message left Monday at the high school by The Associated Press.

The other complaint alleges a player suffered permanent vision damage after being struck in the eye with a football during practice. The lawsuit claims the coaching staff discouraged the player from wearing his helmet while running pass routes during practice. The player underwent surgery for a detached retina three days after the injury.

The boy lost the center field of vision in his left eye, but still has some peripheral vision, Fetherston said.

West Bonner County School District Superintendent Mike McGuire told the AP that officials have not yet been served with the lawsuit.

"We didn't have school on Friday and we haven't seen anything yet, so there's not much to say at this point," McGuire said.

The lawsuits seek damages of more than $10,000.

Both lawsuits allege school officials failed to notify the athletes' parents that their sons were injured.