quote:
Are people REALLY debating whether the University of Alabama could be held legally liable for what this dumb arse did? I hope people aren't actually debating this. The answer is no and it is nothing like these negligent hiring cases you used as an example.

My point was never that Saban and Battle are responsible for this act. But they should be criticized as they made the decision to bring him on despite warning signs (hell, even LSU passed on him, that should tell you something).

The question that I raised (which apparently was misunderstood by your Alabama brethren coachcrisp) was that the Northwestern Univ. suit alleges that these athletes should be treated as employees. If that ever happens, the university opens itself up to civil liability depending on the circumstances.

For example, a university can be liable if a student is assaulted or raped in a dormitory if they don't have adequate security or are negligent in providing a safe place for students to live.

An employer is liable when they give someone a company car and the person goes out, gets drunk, and hits someone in it.

Hypothetically, if Taylor was an employee of Alabama (again, hypothetically and according to what the NW lawsuit alleged), he would be a state employee, brought in by the decision of the state's two most powerful public figures, despite obvious risks, and housed in an off campus apartment paid for by the state.

This post was edited on 3/30/15 at 12:51 pm