Judge Tom
Ultimately, all of the facts would have to be considered in order to determine whether the parents of the players are responsible for the damage to the phone. For instance, was the girl standing on the court where she should not have been. While it’s true that all states have parental responsibility laws that hold parents responsible for damage caused by their children, it’s not real clear in this case that the damage was the result of one person’s actions. Perhaps, the parents of the players could attempt to talk to the father about this. It’s most likely not worth his time or money to take the matter to court, but depending on all of the facts involved, it may be possible to reach some sort of agreement. You could try Googling your state’s name and “parental responsibility laws” for more specific information. Also, there’s a concept in the law called “assumption of risk.” That means when you place yourself in a situation where you may be injured or your property is damaged, there may be no liability to the boys here since the girl voluntarily assumed the risk that something may happen.
Thank you for writing us. (Check our Teen Help Network for more help and resources in your area. This is information only – not legal advice.)
