MSHSL COVID Forfeiture Lawsuit

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From: CBS Minnesota-WCCO TV4

Hill-Murray Out Of State Hockey Tourney After Judge Rejects Players’ COVID Forfeiture Lawsuit

Author: Kate Raddatz
March 30, 2021 at 9:30 pm

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The defending Class 2-A champions are out of the Minnesota state boys hockey tournament despite legal action against a COVID-19 policy.

Hill-Murray School’s team forfeited their Wednesday night game against Wayzata High School after a judge ruled against nine seniors who sued the Minnesota State High School League. The 11-page lawsuit asked for a temporary restraining order to allow Hill-Murray to play in the tournament.

Last week, Hill-Murray played White Bear Lake for the section championship. Shortly after, they learned a player from White Bear tested positive for COVID-19. The league says the team has to quarantine until Thursday. The players were hoping a lawsuit would be their answer to keep playing. ...

Read more at: Hill-Murray Out Of State Hockey Tourney After Judge Rejects Players' COVID Forfeiture Lawsuit

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The MSHSL COVID-19 Notice that all tournament participants were required to read before attesting to its content by signing the associated Eligibility Statement. The Notice contains a clear statement of participant responsibility in case of exposure or infection ...

4. Participant agrees that if he/she is exposed to, or infected by, COVID-19 during the period of participation, they will immediately cease participation and follow Minnesota Department of Health protocols for schools and activities and MSHSL guidelines for notification and return to participation.

 

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I never could find a published copy of the Hill-Murray players' lawsuit, but the StateOfHockey.com website summarized key points ...

... According to the complaint, “after the conclusion of Hill-Murray’s sectional championship game against White Bear Lake High School, a player from the White Bear Lake High School Hockey Team allegedly tested positive for COVID-19. The positive test was communicated to Hill-Murray, MSHSL, and the Minnesota Department of Health though despite numerous requests, nothing in writing has been received by Hill-Murray.” ...

Part of the lawsuit was a breakdown of the game in question. According to a video review conducted by the plantiffs, the player who tested positive was on the ice for 15 minutes and 15 seconds. The most time a Hill-Murray player was on the ice at the same time as the positive player was six minutes and 18 seconds (there were two players). But when it came to exposure (within 3 feet), there was only 24 seconds of exposure between all Hill-Murray players to the potentially infected White Bear Lake player (it is unknown if the player was infected at the time of the game, the lawsuit states). The complaint also states that the potentially infected player wore a mask during the entire game, as did Hill-Murray players. ...