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
- ^ Wertheim, Jon (2005-10-19). "Czech yourself (pt. 3)". SI.com. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
- ^ "Odd mishap fells tennis official". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Fla. 12 September 1983. p. 3-C. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
- ^ "Tennis serve kills official". The Afro American. 24 September 1983. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ "Digest ..Us Open Linesman Dies" Tri City Herald 17 September 1983
- ^ "Tennis Group Sued Over Death" New York Times 6 September 1984
- ^ WERTHEIM v. UNITED STATES TENNIS ASS'N, INC.
 | This American biographical article related to tennis is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |