Appeals court reduces damage in lawsuit against UCF Athletic Association after player's death
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A Florida appeals court has reduced a $10 million award to $200,000 in a wrongful death suit filed by the family of a University of Central Florida football player who died following conditioning drills in 2008.
The court, however, Friday denied the University of Central Florida Athletic Association a new trial.
A three-judge panel rejected UCF's arguments it was denied a fair trial based on limited presentation time and ruled that a medical release form Ereck Plancher signed did not expressly waive his rights to sue UCFAA.
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It did rule UCF's power of control over its athletics association is sufficient for sovereign immunity afforded to state agencies, reducing the original award the 19-year-old's parents received in July 2011. Any award above $200,000 now has to be approved by the legislature.