Injured Georgia Player Suing University Over Insurance: In the better late than never department, this item from around Christmas.

Former University of Georgia defensive back Decory Bryant said Tuesday that he is suing the school's Athletic Association and fired assistant athletics director Hoke Wilder . . .



Now a senior at Georgia, Bryant, according to the lawsuit, filed a complaint in the Superior Court of Clarke County on Friday, claiming the defendants were negligent for not securing an insurance policy for him in case of a career-threatening injury. Bryant suffered a career-ending spine injury in a game vs. the University of Alabama-Birmingham during his junior season just days after starting talks with Wilder about establishing an insurance policy that would cover Bryant up to $500,000.



The complaint claims Bryant and two other football players, who met standards to be declared eligible for the NFL draft after their junior seasons, sought to participate in the Exceptional Student Athlete Disability Insurance Program. On Oct. 21, 2003, Bryant notified Wilder that he wanted a policy — the Athletic Association used Atlanta-based Entertainment and Sports Insurance Experts (ESIX) — and that his parents would pay the premium of $5,103, according to the complaint.



Wilder "responded by advising the Plaintiff that he did not have to worry about the premium immediately, that his request for coverage would be taken care of and that the papers for him to sign would be in his locker at the end of the day of the following day," according to the complaint.

Two days later, Bryant suffered a career-ending injury. The insurance company refused to backdate the forms that had not yet been signed and denied coverage. Wilder denied that he would secure a policy for Bryant and the two other players, claiming that he stated he would "place an inquiry with various brokers" to see if the student-athletes were eligible for insurance.



The suit is asking for $500,000, plus punitive damages.

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