Florida's highest court rules UCF has immunity
Ereck Plancher photo courtesy of Orlando Sentinel.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the private corporation that runs the University of Central Florida's athletic program won't have to pay $10 million to the family of a football player who died during practice.
The court on Thursday voted 6-0 with one recusal to uphold a lower court ruling that the University of Central Florida Athletic Association is entitled to the same sovereign immunity that protects state agencies from paying more than $200,000 in damages.
Football player Ereck Plancher collapsed and died during a 2008 practice.
His family sued the association, claiming negligence. A trial court awarded the family $10 million.
An appellate court, however, ruled that the association was entitled to sovereign immunity.
The Supreme Court says Plancher's family could seek more money through the Florida Legislature.