Advertisement 14-year-old Little Leaguer sued by coach for celebrating win Coach's attorney: The kid crossed the line Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Joe Paris held his son's baseball helmet in his hands and expressed frustration that the teen is now named in a civil summons filed in Placer County Superior Court by the boy's own coach in connection with a game-winning celebration.Watch report: Baseball celebration turns sour as coach sues player"At first I thought it was joke," Paris said Tuesday. "Now, I think it's absurd."Paris said his son was racing toward home plate to score the winning run during a Lakeside Little League game last spring when the boy threw off his helmet in celebration."He was so excited," Paris said.In legal papers filed in court, the teen's former coach, Alan Beck, contends the boy "carelessly threw a helmet, striking Plaintiff's Achilles tendon and tearing it."The legal filings show Beck is seeking $500,000 for pain and suffering, and more than $100,000 for lost wages and medical bills.When contacted at his home, Beck declined to answer questions regarding his legal filing."I cannot comment until my attorney says it's OK," Beck said.However, Beck's attorney returned a phone on Wednesday morning."I don't think the boy meant to harm him," said Gene Goldsman, Beck's Santa Ana attorney. "But, this wasn't a part of the game. A guy who volunteers his time to coach should not be subjected to someone who throws a helmet in the manner that he did. What the kid did, it crossed the line."A voice mail left for the president of Lakeside Little League has not been returned."Unfortunately, it is Little League policy not to comment on any aspect of a pending legal action. Sorry I can’t be of any help," said Brian McClintock, Little League International's director of media relations.Bill Portanova, a legal expert in Sacramento, told KCRA 3 that California law does allow children to be sued for their actions.However, he said on a baseball field where there is an inherent risk of flying baseballs, bats and even helmets in the course of every game, proving the boy intended to injure, or knew his actions could cause injury, could be difficult."If he deliberately hurt somebody, then it's a stronger case and a stronger case that his parents could be held liable, but kids playing a kids' game in a contact sport -- and baseball is a contact sport -- that's going to be a tougher case," Portanova said.Portanova pointed out that many homeowners' insurance policies can cover legal expenses in a case like this for the defendant.However, Paris said he doesn't have homeowners insurance and can't afford to continue to fight this legal action much longer."I've already spent over $4,000 and we haven't even been in a courtroom yet," Paris said.This case is scheduled to come before a judge in March.