Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California
My 14yr old son had a meltdown at a little league game last week. He threw his helmet and kicked the dugout door open to walk out when he was ejected from the game. He was suspended from the following game as well. Now the league is saying he is suspended for 2 more weeks pending further investigation. He has had a meeting with the little league board and has apologized to his coaches and some teammates. I have apologized for his behavior to all the parents on the team. If he is suspended for 2 more weeks he will miss practices and 4 more games. That is a total of 5 games missed. The season only has 10 more games left. It feels as though he is being bullied into quitting and I am being ostracized as well. I know for sure that 1 parent said if he returns she is pulling her son out, but he made a mistake and has been punished for it. I am not sleeping well and do not need the stress but have always told my son not to quit. This is my son's last year in little league due to his age and he has been in this league for 10 years now. The bullying and ostracizing is the part that is making me sick. Is there a possible civil case so this does not happen to another child?
3 Answers from Attorneys
You probably need to review the league rules to determine if this level of discipline is appropriate.
It appears that your son, who should know better after 10 years of playing, is a poor sport. Your reaction seems to me to be a little over the top. It might be better for your health if you don't get so involved.
Unless there is some departure from the league rules, which I doubt, I don't think there is any valid civil suit here. I don't see that the rights of your son or you have been in anyway violated. Perhaps instead of looking to sue, you and your son would benefit from counseling and anger management classes.
I agree completely with Mr. Spirtos. A boy who gets ejected from a game and then throws a tantrum over it needs 1) to learn a lesson. 2) a counselor WAY more than a lawyer, and 3) parents who realize that getting him out of the penalties for his misconduct is damaging their son's character. Does it not occur to you that YOU being ostracized is because YOUR response to this situation is a problem as well? Do you not realize that the other parents see your son's parents as the root of the problem if they are treating you this way. Does it not occur to you that they may well be right? The law is not going to help you prevent your son from suffering the consequences of his misconduct. Boys who don't face their consequences and learn proper impulse control and good conduct are the ones who become legal problems as young men - on the criminal law side.
So, he threw a violent out of control temper tantrum that may have damaged property, and you criticize them for disciplining him?? Ditto Mr. McCormick's comments.
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