PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A lawsuit filed in federal court Monday against the Peninsula School District involves injuries a football player received during a game last year.
A 16-page civil complaint claimed it happened because of a practice, policy, and custom to incite violence.
"There was a very late hit, multiple seconds after the whistle had blown, that was extremely violent,” said Kevin Hastings, PCVA Law attorney.
Hastings said it happened during the “Fish Bowl” football game on Sept. 15, 2023. His client, Gig Harbor High's quarterback at that time, had to be carried off the field as a result of an after-play hit allegedly carried out by a Peninsula High player.
Hastings said it left his client with a broken jaw and concussion, and he "lost all feeling to his legs … for approximately eight to ten hours."
"After this happened, it took medical personnel a long time to get there because the school didn't have arrangements for medical personnel, sufficient medical personnel, to be there on-site,” Hastings said.
The attorney said his investigation over the past several months found players were encouraged to engage in impermissible and dangerous conduct during football games.
"There has been a culture and pattern and practice of this type of behavior within the Peninsula School District, and specifically within the Peninsula High School of encouraging children who are playing football to not only target quarterbacks, but also to injure them,” Hastings said.
KING 5 reached out to the Peninsula School District for a response to the allegations. In an email, a district spokesperson replied, “Our standing policy is we do not discuss or comment on open litigation.”
KING 5 reached the football coach on Wednesday. He declined to comment on the open litigation.