On March 11, 2015, Frances Alessio was a participant in an officially sanctioned intramural coed basketball game on Marshall University’s campus and, during the course of the game, players on Alessio’s team complained to and warned the referees and the Marshall staff person supervising the event that Hunter Walker was playing in an overly aggressive and reckless manner and that if his behavior was not curbed someone was likely to be injured, according to a complaint filed in Cabell Circuit Court.
Alessio claims despite the warning, neither the Marshall supervisory employee nor the referees took any action whatsoever to caution Walker about his aggressive play and, as a result of the failure, Walker continued to overly aggressive play.
Within a short period of time after the warning was dismissed, Walker plowed into Alessio, knocking her to the floor and causing her to suffer injuries to her mouth, nose and head, according to the suit.
Alessio claims she was rendered unconscious and could not even remember her own name when she came to.
That same evening, Alessio was treated at the emergency room of Cabell Huntington Hospital and was diagnosed as having suffered a non-depressed fracture of the left nasal bone, an active concussion and TMJ complications, according to the suit.
Alessio claims she continues treatment for her injuries.
The defendant negligently allowed Walker to continue to play in the basketball game in a reckless and dangerous manner resulting in Alessio’s injury
Alessio is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Paul Saluja of Saluja Law Offices.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Christopher D. Chiles.
Cabell Circuit Court case number: 17-C-17