NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It was supposed to be a fun game of kickball at Hadley Park last September until one player says it got out of control.
Joseph Villari is suing the Nashville Sports League after he alleges staff allowed an intoxicated team to play causing him serious leg injuries.
On September 20th, 2018, Villari and his kickball team were playing the "One Kick Wonders" team. The lawsuit alleges that the One Kick Wonders were visibly intoxicated at the time of their arrival and the referees at the game saw and were aware of this.
"In the complaint we've alleged that the other team showed up drunk that they were drinking during the game; that they put a bottle of Jack Daniels at first base. We've alleged that when they reached first base that they were to take a "shot"," said Jonathan Williams, plantiff's attorney.
According to Nashville Sports Leagues, a player must be over 21 to participate; the lawsuit says there was an underage player in the game who was drunk; in the affidavit he is listed as John Doe.
"There was an unknown player who was not registered, under the age of 21 and extremely intoxicated and that individual ran into jumped into my client breaking several bones in his leg," said Williams.
Villari said it was that same player who ran into him during the game causing him to sustain a left lateral tibial plateau fracture, left fibular shaft fracture, multiple other fractures in an around his left knee and leg and torn MCL and ACL.
The court documents say several players of the One Kick Wonders took turn taking "shots" from a large bottle of Jack Daniels Whiskey. They allegedly placed the bottle near first base and when the players reached first base they would do a "shot" from the bottle. It's even alleged that one player loudly proclaimed, "I am so drunk I can't even see" while another vomited in left field.
"We’ve alleged that one of the players from the other team vomited in the outfield, one fell over he was so drunk," Williams said.
Vallari is asking for compensatory damages in the amount of $1 million to cover past and future healthcare and medical bills, lost wages and physical pain and suffering. He is also asking for $2 million in punitive damages.
NewsChannel 5 did reach out to the Nashville Sports Leagues' CEO Philip Steen; he said he is out of town and unavailable.
