Dick Wertheim

Richard "Dick" Wertheim (c. 1923 – September 15, 1983) was an American tennis linesman who suffered a fatal injury on September 10, 1983, during a match at the 1983 US Open.[1]

Wertheim's fatal injury occurred after Stefan Edberg sent an errant serve directly into his groin.[2] The official had been sitting in a chair and officiating at the center line when the blow knocked him backward. He fell out of the chair and onto the hardcourt surface, striking his head.[3]

Wertheim was unconscious when he was taken to Flushing Hospital and Medical Center. He died on September 15.[4] His family sued the United States Tennis Association for $2.25 million.[5] In an opinion suggesting that the impact of the tennis ball had not been the proximate cause of his death, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York reversed a $165,000 jury award to his estate. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wertheim, Jon (2005-10-19). "Czech yourself (pt. 3)". SI.com. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  2. ↑ "Odd mishap fells tennis official". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Fla. 12 September 1983. p. 3-C. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  3. ↑ "Tennis serve kills official". The Afro American. 24 September 1983. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Digest ..Us Open Linesman Dies" Tri City Herald 17 September 1983
  5. ↑ "Tennis Group Sued Over Death" New York Times 6 September 1984
  6. ↑ WERTHEIM v. UNITED STATES TENNIS ASS'N, INC.


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