Injured UGA player possibly taking legal action . . .

[GAVol]

This is kind of long, but it's an interesting story. You've got the University of Georgia, a football player, and an insurance company all involved in a dispute, and after reading the article, I'm not sure whose side I'm on.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13849419.htm

[wncvolfan]

Originally Posted by (GAVol @ Feb 11, 2006 1:52 PM)

This is kind of long, but it's an interesting story. You've got the University of Georgia, a football player, and an insurance company all involved in a dispute, and after reading the article, I'm not sure whose side I'm on.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/13849419.htm

I'd side with the athelete in this case. My reasoning: If the insurance policy had not been activated with the athelete's signature at the time of the injury, as much as I dislike insurance companies' sidestepping tactics, it looks to me like they are not liable in this case. From reading the article, it appears to me the university is responsible, since Bryant had asked for the policy and the university rep Wilder was negligent in not persuing the signing. From what I read, it appears Wilder was responsible for expediting the signing of the application for coverage and had not performed duties assigned to him. This is regardless of the fact the university fired him after the injury but before this all came to a head. It appears to me Wilder was gainfully employed by UGA and served as an agent for the university (or was he an agent for the insurance company?) when the episode began to unfold. Therefore I think UGA is liable. This is just my opinion based on what I've read, but I'm possibly misguided because who knows if all the facts are in.

[GAVol]

Given the facts I read, I don't see any way that the insurance company can be held liable since there was no signature, no premium had changed hands and typically there is no binding authority for this type of policy. I think this one is between the player and UGA, and will ultimately the best the player can hope for is some sort of settlement. In the end, even though it's tough luck for the player, he's the one ultimately responsible for securing the coverage for himself.