- October 14, 2024
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Stephen Usina, a former Flagler Palm Coast soccer goalie, who suffered serious injuries in an on-field collision nearly three years ago, is suing Father Lopez Catholic High School for $30,000 in damages due to negligence.
Usina suffered a fracture of the second cervical vertebra, a bulging disc and a spinal concussion in a Jan. 21, 2019 game at Father Lopez, according to an Observer story at the time. A Father Lopez player ran into Usina after he bent down to scoop up a ball.
According to the lawsuit filed in Circuit Court in Volusia County, the player "intentionally collided" with Usina, who suffered injuries to his "head, face, neck and extremities."
The Father Lopez player was ejected from the game. The suit alleges that Father Lopez coaches argued with the referee that the player's actions were not against the rules and he shouldn't have been ejected. The suit states that the coaches were negligent because they "taught players to engage in specifically banned conduct that was likely to lead to serious injury."
The suit states that Usina is suffering physical and mental pain, "losing capacity for the enjoyment of life ... losing wages in the past and a loss of wage earning capacity in the indefinite future, losing athletic scholarships ... and incurring medical and hospital bills."
Douglas Rawnsley, Usina's attorney, said on Thursday, Nov. 3, that the Orlando Diocese, in which the school is affiliated, had not been served yet, and he could not comment on the suit.
