May 30 2007 - Lawsuit claiming football player's wrongful death seeks millions

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a western Kentucky high school football player seeks more than $17 million, according to court records.

The suit was filed in January by the family of Ryan Owens, a 16-year-old player at Henderson County High School who collapsed and died at after football practice on July 19, 2006.

New filings in the suit that revealed the damage requests were filed Friday in response to questions from the defense. A medical examiner's report concluded Owens suffered from a rare heart defect that had been exacerbated by the heat.

The documents filed Friday by Owens' family allege the school's athletic officials were slow in summoning medical.

Owens' parents, Randy and Marla Owens, argued that the defendants "ordered Ryan Owens to continue athletic activity wearing helmet and gear after reporting difficulty breathing, kept him outside in extreme heat in helmet and gear for substantial period of time after evidencing warning signs of heat stress."

The suit named the Henderson County school board along with Owens' coaches, the school's principal and athletics director and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

Circuit Judge Steve Hayden dismissed the school board from the suit on Monday. The new filings ask that $7.5 million be awarded for Owens' wrongful death, along with $7.5 million for punitive damages, $1 million for pain and suffering, $1 million for loss of affection and companionship, $14,100 in funeral expenses and about $5,000 for medical bills.

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