Richard 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] He was injured when Stefan Edberg sent an errant serve directly into his groin.[2] Wertheim was sitting in a chair and officiating at the center line. The blow knocked him backwards and he fell out of the chair onto the hardcourt surface, striking his head.[3] He had a history of chronic cardiovascular disease having had a heart attack and stroke at age 40 years.[4] Wertheim was unconscious when he was taken to Flushing Hospital Medical Center. He died on September 15.[5] His family sued the United States Tennis Association for $2.25 million.[6] 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.[4] Following this event, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) refrained from having linesmen sitting during plays.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Wertheim, Jon (October 19, 2005). "Czech yourself (pt. 3)". SI.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ "Odd mishap fells tennis official". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Fla. September 12, 1983. p. 3-C. Retrieved November 20, 2008.
- ^ "Tennis serve kills official". The Afro American. September 24, 1983. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ a b WERTHEIM v. UNITED STATES TENNIS ASS'N, INC.
- ^ "Digest ..Us Open Linesman Dies" Tri City Herald 17 September 1983
- ^ "Tennis Group Sued Over Death" The New York Times 6 September 1984
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