Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

[BillVol]

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/gv_other_sp ... 31,00.html

Former Tennessee decathlete Scott Hartman, injured by a hammer at a meet in Kentucky 16 years ago, died on Wednesday. The decathlon competition in the Sea Ray Relays is named in his honor. What a tragedy.

[Guest]

Re: Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

Just curious how U of T was liable for this tragedy at an away meet?

[Law dude]

Re: Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

>Just curious how U of T was liable for this
tragedy at an away meet?<

Sounds to me as if it was a question of whose insurance coverage was primary. He was probably covered both by the UT's insurance and the policy of his own family (which could have been dependent coverage under a parent's group insurance.) There's no hint in that story that negligence was an issue.

[Guest]

Re: Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

Another story...

http://www.tennessean.com/sports/locals ... D=42413876

[Pego]

Re: Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

<Just curious how U of T was liable for this tragedy at an away meet?>

...and at least one third went to the lawyers. That's before the expenses that must have been enormous. The Hartmans probably got very little, UT paid a million, lawyers got rich. I am hardly ever cynical, in this instance it's hard not to be.

[Guest]

Re: Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

One more Hartman item:

http://utsports.ocsn.com/genrel/111403aaa.html

[Guest]

Story from Williamson County Review Appeal

I was trying to find the story from his hometown newspaper, the Williamson County Review Appeal of Franklin, Tenn. The site is subscription based, and I could not access the story. But I told them in an email I wanted to send the story to Track & Field News, and they very kindly sent me the text of the story, with the request that the Williamson County Review Appeal, Franklin, Tenn., be credited.




Legendary BHS track star Scott Hartman dies at 36

From Staff and Wire Reports


A former Brentwood High School and University of Tennessee star track athlete, who won a million-dollar lawsuit against the university for a head injury suffered at a 1987 meet, died Wednesday in Knoxville.

Scott Hartman, 36, never regained complete consciousness and died after a period of deteriorating health, his mother, Kay Hartman, told The Knoxville News Sentinel Wednesday night.

"Scott fought a hard battle," Kay Hartman said. "The doctors told me the day he was injured they didn't know if he'd live through the first night."

Hartman was a 19-year-old freshman from Brentwood when he was hit in the head by a 16-pound steel field hammer during warmups at a track and field meet at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. A field hammer is a metal ball attached to a metal grip by a steel wire of up to 4 feet long and is slung by throwers in distance competition.

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound athlete -- voted Brentwood High's most outstanding athlete and prom king his senior year, all as an All-Midstate and All-County running back for the Bruins -- was struck on the top of his neck and knocked unconscious. He had been incapacitated since.

Hartman's injury was so significant it "required custodial care for the rest of his life," the state Court of Appeals ruled in April.

He was treated at a rehabilitation center after his injury and eventually returned home to his mother's house, where he lived the past 14 years. Hartman's mother and a team of nurses cared for him.

"He was a remarkable guy," Tennessee head track and field coach Bill Webb said. "It's the biggest tragedy I've ever been associated with in track and field."

Webb, UT's field-events coach, was an assistant in 1987 and worked with Hartman during his brief time at Tennessee.

At the Kentucky meet, Hartman was walking away from the throwing pit outside the foul line during warmups when he was hit in the back of the head by a practice throw from another athlete.

"He had thrown the hammer extremely well," Webb said, "and he was an outstanding decathlon prospect. He was also a nice, quality guy.

"Hopefully he's in a better place than he has been the last 15 years or so. Our hearts and sympathies go out to the family."

The University of Tennessee, Hartman's parents and BellSouth wrangled in court for years. BellSouth, where Hartman's father worked and had health insurance that covered his son, was seeking reimbursement from UT for the cost of Hartman's care.

The case between the family and UT was settled in 1998, but the claims by BellSouth were not resolved.

The appeals court in April upheld a ruling by the Tennessee Claims Commission that BellSouth was owed more than $1 million by UT for unpaid medical bills. The court said UT agreed to furnish medical treatment for any injuries incurred during athletic competition when it gave Hartman an athletic scholarship.

Tennessee named the decathlon at its annual Sea Ray Relays in honor of Hartman, who was preceded in death by a sister, Renee Hartman.

Survivors include his mother, Kay Graves Hartman; a sister, Pam (Gino) Minutelli; two nieces, Julia and Sophia; a nephew, Nicholas; his father, Cleon "Sonny" Hartman; two half-sisters, Shauna and Felicia Hartman; and his grandmother, Mrs. C.C. "Bertie" Hartman.

Visitation with the family will be from 3-8 p.m. today at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home in Franklin. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Holy Family Catholic Church in Brentwood with Father Tom Doyle officiating. Interment will follow at Williamson Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Gene Andrews, James Parker, Mark Aderholt, Brad Lich, Scott Corley, Gino Minutelli, Keith Graves and Joe Slate. Honorary pallbearers are past and present members of the Brentwood High School track team, Sharon Jacob, Mae Bradshaw, Tina Bruce, Sue Close, Donna Haymer and Ted Krakowiak.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Scott Hartman Memorial Fund, c/o of Brain Injury Association of Tennessee at First Tennessee Bank, 7082 Bakers Bridge Ave., Franklin 37067.

Cole & Garrett Funeral Directors, 127 N. Main St. in Goodlettsville, is in charge of arrangements.

[Guest]

Re: Story from Williamson County Review Appeal

Link to the Williamson County Review Appeal is below:

http://reviewappeal.midsouthnews.com/

[Guest]

Re: Ex-Vol decathlete Scott Hartman dies at 35 :-(

Everyone just loves to rip on lawyers. Til they need one themselves. Then they want "a good lawyer". I am not a lawyer nor am I related to one. It's like hating "the government". But when there is an earthquake or a flood or a plague of locusts folks can't wait for the emergency/disaster declaration so they can recieve relief funds which come from the government. People are people which means they are inconsistent.