DERBY — A former Torrington High School soccer player assaulted on the field during a 2019 match with Derby is suing two former Derby players, their parents, their coach, the Derby Board of Education, the City of Derby, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, and the game’s referees.
The Torrington player suffered a concussion and a host of facial injuries after being punched repeatedly by two Derby players. The Torrington woman continues to suffer from the attack, both physically and mentally, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks to recoup an unspecified amount of money the player’s family was forced to spend on medical care, including surgery and prescriptions.
The lawsuit claims the girls’ parents are responsible for their children’s behavior since the girls were minors at the time of the incident. The lawsuit also cites the athletic conference for not providing a safe environment, and the two referees for not warning the Derby players or removing them from the playing field. The lawsuit also claims the Derby coach failed in his obligation to supervise his team, and that the Derby Board of Education is negligent for hiring an incompetent supervisor.
The lawsuit seeks punitive damages, including attorney fees.
The lawsuit stems from a soccer match between Derby and Torrington in Torrington on Sept. 26, 2019. The lawsuit accuses one of the Derby players of grabbing the Torrington player’s jersey during the game “suddenly and without provocation,” causing her to fall to the ground. The assault happened as the match was ending, according to media reports.
“Once the Plaintiff was on the ground, (the defendant) struck the Plaintiff in the face,” according to the lawsuit. “While (the defendant) and the Plaintiff were on the ground, (a second Derby soccer player) grabbed the Plaintiff by her ponytail and punched her 8 – 10 times about the head.”
Both Derby players beat the Torrington player until they were physically restrained by adults, according to the lawsuit, which is a public document.
The Valley Indy reached out to the lawyers for the former Derby players to give their version of the events.
The Torrington player was 16 years old at the time of the incident. The two Derby players were 17.
One of the Derby players was arrested about three months after the incident and charged with second-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace, according to an article from The Republican-American of Waterbury.
The Valley Indy was unable to learn the outcome of the case because criminal proceedings against minors are closed to the public.
Three law firms representing some of the defendants in the case requested a judge grant an extension of time to reply to the plaintiff’s complaint. A judge granted the extension of time May 17, giving the defendants until June 20, 2021 to file responses.
The court docket number is CV21-6042495‑S.
