Former high school football player sues Beaufort Co. school district for ‘devastating’ injury
A former Bluffton High School football player filed a lawsuit against the school and district alleging that in a rivalry game against May River, his coach knew he was injured and ordered him to return to the game in the second half, ending the player’s athletic career and causing “devastating” injury.
The alleged incident happened Oct. 8, 2021. The former player, Nicolas Dunn, and his mother filed the lawsuit this week. They seek damages, “including but not limited to, physical injury, fear, anxiety, emotional distress, pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, permanent impairment of health (and) loss of enjoyment of life.”
The lawsuit says Dunn injured his leg during the first half of the game and was taken out to be medically evaluated and treated. It says Dunn told the coaches and athletic trainers that he was in pain and indicated he didn’t believe “he was in any condition to return to the game.”
During the second half of the game, the lawsuit says that Dunn’s coaches instructed him to go back in, and despite his limping they left him in the game, leading to him further injuring his knee and leg.
“I just think it’s tragic because Mr. Dunn put his faith and trust in his coaches and trainers there and did not want to be exposed to further injury,” said Patrick Carr, the attorney representing Dunn.
Carr said they fully exhausted “efforts to resolve the case and invite the opposing parties to settle it without having to file a lawsuit.”
District Spokesperson Candace Bruder said that the district is unable to comment on pending legal matters.
This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 1:44 PM.
