# Another frivilous lawsuit, this one by high school cheerleader **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729 "2003-08-31T01:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/41 "2003-09-02T17:42:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder if the response would be different if she were a football player who had been benched in his senior year because he missed a week of mini-camp? I was benched for the duration of my Junior year as a varsity starter because of a comment my father made at a game and I didn’t go whining to the fucking courts. Screwed up my chances at scholarship, ruined my taste for the game and drove me away from collegiate sports for good. Sam ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/42 "2003-09-02T17:46:47Z")
Yeah I think we are on the same page here. I would have been just as annoyed by a $5 million lawsuit if the guy had been in a public park. The legitimate cases lose out, and that’s a shame as well. There should also be a cap on punitive damages. Maybe $500,000 or so. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/43 "2003-09-02T17:47:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > \*\*I was benched for the duration of my Junior year as a varsity starter because of a comment my father made at a game and I didn’t go whining to the fucking courts. Screwed up my chances at scholarship, ruined my taste for the game and drove me away from collegiate sports for good. > > Sam \*\* Well now we have to know what he said. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/44 "2003-09-02T19:15:22Z")
[hijack ON] > [@](#): > > Well now we have to know what he said. Well, my father was very-shall we say-outspoken(Read: Bigmouth). My coach was a lousy play caller and with 2 yards to go would opt for the field goal when 20 points down and would opt to try to run it in with 20 yards to go. That kind of lameness. THis constant mis-calling and subsequent losses displeased my father. Anywho, one day my father happened to sit behind the coaches BITCH wife, and, well, I was threatened on Monday and benched the very same day. Our defense fell apart(I was a tackle), and I was repeatedly asked to join the following year-to which I refused every time. Since I was already a sports trainer I just transitioned into the football team’s trainer and got more time treating the team instead of playing. Sam [/hijack OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/45 "2003-09-02T19:50:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > \*\*[hijack ON] > > Well, my father was very-shall we say-outspoken(Read: Bigmouth). My coach was a lousy play caller and with 2 yards to go would opt for the field goal when 20 points down and would opt to try to run it in with 20 yards to go. That kind of lameness. THis constant mis-calling and subsequent losses displeased my father. > > Anywho, one day my father happened to sit behind the coaches BITCH wife, and, well, I was threatened on Monday and benched the very same day. > > Our defense fell apart(I was a tackle), and I was repeatedly asked to join the following year-to which I refused every time. Since I was already a sports trainer I just transitioned into the football team’s trainer and got more time treating the team instead of playing. > > Sam > > [/hijack OFF] \*\* That’s all very intersting, but we still need the exact quote. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/46 "2003-09-02T20:47:05Z")
> [@](#): > > The suit says Huffine was given permission to skip a cheerleading camp but was then demoted for missing it. Its really as shame because now she can’t say: “Ya know, there was this one time when I was at Cheerleader camp…and I took a Baton…and…” ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/47 "2003-09-02T21:29:24Z")
Sorry Bryan, I wasn’t there so I have no direct quote. What I do have is a paraphrasing of my coaches ass-reaming the next monday: > [@](#): > > Hey Sam, next time your dad watches a game, tell him to make sure he knows who he’s sitting in front of and if he doesn’t like the way this fucking team is run tell him he can join next year as a coach and have some say in how the plays get called. > > Oh and by the way, Rocky will be starting ahead of you from now on. It’s his senior year Of course the person they replaced me with was 3rd on the chart at that time. Also, the above-paraphrasing of the coach excludes the spittle, bad breath, and utter contempt for me as a person, student and player. Sam ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/48 "2003-09-02T21:43:18Z")
Coach sounds like an petty guy taking it out on you, sorry to hear that. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/49 "2003-09-02T21:45:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GaWd \* > **Of course the person they replaced me with was 3rd on the chart at that time. Also, the above-paraphrasing of the coach excludes the spittle, bad breath, and utter contempt for me as a person, student and player.** **GaWD** , it’s a shame you got caught up in that crap. I must say that your dad and the coach sound like the sort of assholes who sometimes end up turning fun sporting events into rage-ridden fistfights and all-in brawls. It’s just this sort of verbal sniping at games that often leads to back-and-forth abuse, pushing, shoving, then fighting. Parents and coaches of kids’ sporting teams really need to get a fucking grip of themselves, IM(not so)HO. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/50 "2003-09-02T23:32:35Z")
Ah yes, the standard `life isn't fair'/`we have a legal system’ debate. Here’s what it comes down to: There isn’t an overriding principle. There never will be one as long as the system works. Just as man’s reach will ever exceed his grasp, man’s desire for fair play will ever war with his desire to see the other guy get screwed over. And laugh. Of course, there are disturbing undercurrents in both themes: On one hand, we have the Communards whigning for a system where nobody ever has to deal with anything bad, 'cause we have Society and Civilization. The implication being that the Benificient and Munificent and All-Powerful Government (Peace Be Upon It!) shall decree a metric assload of laws to ensure the Domestication of Tranquility (and the end of free choice in any matter more pressing than chicken-flavored soya v. beef-flavored soya). On the other hand, we have the Teachers smugly saying that it’s good for the kiddies to larn theyselves that life ain’t fair and that they’ll always be the ones what get screwed over. The implication being that nobody under the age of 40 should have any legal recourse whatsoever, because they’re always filing those frivolous suits that challenge the powers that be. Needless to say, it’s always good to smack down the powers that be. One’s betters are always deserving of a good attitude readjustment. Anyway, I’ve pointed out the two extremes to make my point: This Ain’t Over. It never will be. So learn to enjoy the pendulum ride. “He sued over a syringe in his MeatShake? The goddamned idiots will always be filing those frivolous suits!” ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/51 "2003-09-03T00:05:39Z")
I’m sure the young lady? cheer leader was dissappointed. Most likely it was a mother like Jon Benet’s who lived vicariously through the accomplishments of her “little girl.” And a greedy lawyer who didn’t tell the mother to drop dead. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/52 "2003-09-03T00:08:38Z")
I’m sure the young lady? cheer leader was dissappointed. Most likely it was a mother like Jon Benet’s who got her kicks and lived vicariously through the accomplishments of her “little girl.” And a greedy lawyer who didn’t tell the mother to drop dead. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/53 "2003-09-03T00:53:39Z")
I’m from that neck of the woods. The school in question is a public school, and cheerleaders are at the top of a pecking order which can be rather brutal. Since my opinion of cheerleaders, if applied to people of other races, would make me sound like a raving bigot, complete with “Don’t get me wrong; one of them was a friend of mine,” I’ll stop now before I get into more trouble. Realistically, yes, she probably did suffer some harm in the form of loss of personality. My own experience at the bottom of a rather notoriously brutal pecking order has me muttering, “But not as much as she’s done to others.” Feh. I’ll leave them too it. I spent last weekend running with the geeks and having a wonderful time. If she has good luck, she’ll learn from this. If she has really good luck, this really will be the worst thing which happens to her. On the other hand, if she has bad luck, being a cheerleader in high school really will be the best thing that happens to her. If that’s the case, I prefer my life, scars and all. CJ (Did that make _any_ sense?) ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/54 "2003-09-03T02:36:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siege \* > \*\* The school in question is a public school, and cheerleaders are at the top of a pecking order which can be rather brutal. Realistically, yes, she probably did suffer some harm in the form of loss of personality. My own experience at the bottom of a rather notoriously brutal pecking order has me muttering, “But not as much as she’s done to others.” > > If she has good luck, she’ll learn from this. If she has really good luck, this really will be the worst thing which happens to her. On the other hand, if she has bad luck, being a cheerleader in high school really will be the best thing that happens to her. If that’s the case, I prefer my life, scars and all. > > CJ > (Did that make _any_ sense?) \*\* yes it did, but your post, at least the bits that I’m quoting sort of tie in with the bit of my OP about once you get out of high school, no one cares what you did in high school, except that you graduated/got your diploma. If not making the cheerleading squad has caused this girl “_permanent emotional/psychological damage_”, then she was mentally fucked up to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Thaidog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@Thaidog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaidog)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/55 "2003-09-03T04:16:16Z")
This story is the state of current legality and what you can do with it when you’re rich… or in American terms “middle class”… ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/56 "2003-09-03T04:58:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\* I then asked what kind of an idiot was she that she didn’t see any reflections on the door, no sun shining off it or a mirror image of herself walking up to it, etc. \*\* I’ve run into the sliding glass door that leads to the back door. I wouldn’t doubt that many others have done similiar things. I’ve also made stupid mistakes like cut myself with a knife, burned myself on the stove, and hit my head on low overhangs. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Caprigenus\_Chevre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@Caprigenus\_Chevre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprigenus_Chevre)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/57 "2003-09-03T07:30:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolfman \* > \*\*What is this whining to the court crap. What happened to the good old days when the cheerleader’s mother would simply take matters into her own hands and start killing people to get her daughter on the squad. \*\* She didn’t kill anybody… she hired a hitman… 🆒 🙂 😃 😛 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/58 "2003-09-03T12:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > \*\*I’ve run into the sliding glass door that leads to the back door. I wouldn’t doubt that many others have done similiar things. I’ve also made stupid mistakes like cut myself with a knife, burned myself on the stove, and hit my head on low overhangs. > > Marc \*\* And hopefully like any normal person you chuckle at yourself for being an idiot and go about your day. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729/59 "2003-09-03T12:55:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*I walked a few feet over and asked her how could she walk into a glass door, because it’s not like they are transparent to the point of being invisible or anything. \*\* At one of my former places of employment, there was a floor to ceiling glass window in the elevator lobby that looked right at the receptionist’s desk. The angle at which one would approach the window and the paucity of lighting in the lobby conspired to make the very clean glass all but invisible until you were right against it, perhaps banging into it if you had a lot of momentum going. I personally watched no fewer than five competant, well-educated business people walk right into that window. One broke his eyeglasses and received a serious cut to his lower eyelid and cheek that required the attention of a plastic surgeon. He didn’t sue, however. And **Seige** , I know what you’re talking about, most assuredly, but I can’t see where generalizations about the attitudes of cheerleaders are appropos here. For all we know, this girl is also in the math and chess clubs, service society, peer mentor organization and reads to the blind on weekends. And if she’s just watched her chances of a scholarship to Penn State or Syracuse evaporate because of a high-handed, arbitrary decision, you can bet that she’s emotionally wounded. Even if she _is_ a bitch to the geeky girls, that doesn’t mean that she’s not wounded. Whether or not she’s sympathetic overall is irrelevant when discussing her grounds for legal remedy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-frivilous-lawsuit-this-one-by-high-school-cheerleader/198729.md?page=2)