California Teens Sues School District for Melee
CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Sweetwater Union High School District is being sued by a 17-year-old student, who alleges that a soccer coach punched him during a brawl at a match in February, for negligence.
The lawsuit was filed by Rosa Martinez, Alberto “Tito” Ayala’s mother, on her son’s behalf. The amount Ayala seeks is unspecified; however, it is more than $25,000.
Ayala claims that Eduardo Jimenez Arenas, a soccer coach for San Ysidro High School, punched him in the face during the Feb. 1 melee at a soccer match between San Ysidro and Otay Ranch High School. By punching Ayala, the lawsuit claims, it encouraged others to attack the boy. Arenas maintains his innocence, stating that he was simply stepping in to stop a fight between two other individuals.
The lawsuit states that the district was also at fault because it should have been aware of Arenas violent tendencies, and that he did not have the proper training to deal with volatile situations. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the district failed to provide the proper security to prevent the incident.
At the time of the incident, Arenas spent four days in jail; however, he was released without being charged. It is unknown why he was not charged for the incident.
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