https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Roseville-parent-sues-coach-for-middle-school-11514788.php
Roseville parent sues coach for middle school son's football injury
Jameson Cook
The father of a Roseville middle school student accuses his son's football coach of injuring the youngster during a drill last fall in which the coach donned a helmet and ran at the boy, according to a lawsuit.
Bernard Androsuk on Tuesday filed a complaint in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens claiming that Joseph Hoff of Roseville through his negligence fractured Alexander Androsuk's collarbone and caused pain, mental anguish and other problems.
"The conduct of the defendant was so extreme and outrageous, with no regard for the safety and well being of the thirteen year old, 8th grade (sic) Alex Androsuk, and was so reckless as to demonstrate a substantial lack of concern for whether an injury occurred," Androsuk says in the lawsuit. "Hoff is a far larger human, more experienced and physically trained football player than (Androsuk)."
The lawsuit says Hoff was an assistant coach at Roseville Middle School on Oct. 29 when during a practice before the season's last game he put on a helmet and chose Alexander and two other players to participate in a tackling drill.
"The players would attempt to tackle him while he charged toward them with a football in his arm," the lawsuit says.
Immediately afterward, Alexander complained about being injured, and, "Hoff responded by stating that Alexander was faking the injury," the lawsuit says.
Hoff, a carpenter, declined to comment through a relative who answered a telephone at his home.
Roseville Community Schools was not named as a defendant.
About a week after the incident occurred, RCS Athletic Director Major Mickens told WJBK-TV (Channel 2) he would investigate.
RCS Superintendent John Kment said Tuesday that he believes Mickens will recommend to the Board of Education that Hoff should not be rehired as an assistant coach for next fall. Kment said he wasn't sure if the head coach, Sal Rubio, would be recommended for rehiring. The team was undefeated last fall, and the district hires its coaches each year.
Kment said it appeared that Hoff went too far in coaching his players.
"It's not uncommon for a coach to have a one-on-one with players but never with a running start," Kment said. "In this case there was a running start by the coach which is not condoned by us and is not acceptable to us."
Kment added that "there were other reasons, too" for Hoff not being asked back, based on Mickens' recommendation.
Mickens was unavailable for comment, Kment said.
There is video of the incident that was shown in the TV report.
Bernard Androsuk said in the report that he was "really disgusted with the whole thing." He said his son was crying after he was injured.
"Them coaches should've had no rights to put that helmet and hit any kids - period," he said. "I (could) see as he hit my son, the minute he made contact, I knew my son was hurt."
Alexander was 5 feet 6 inches tall and 189 pounds, according to the report.
Bernard and Alexander Androsuk could not be reached for comment.
The Androsuks' attorney, John Harrington, was out of town Tuesday and unavailable for comment.
The lawsuit, assigned to Judge Edward Servitto, also seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses.