Opinion ID: 1826702
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Control of the games

Text: The City maintained general oversight of softball games at the park and had the authority to bar individual players, or entire teams, from participation in league play for disciplinary reasons. However, the umpires were the only persons who had direct control over the games and the responsibility of enforcing the rules of the games and the game in question. A few years before the accident, the City began contracting with the Meridian Umpire Association (the Association) to provide officials for the games. The Association allegedly is not incorporated, carries no liability insurance, and is without significant assets. The City pays the Association an agreed amount for providing officials for the games. The Association, in turn, pays the officials according to the number of games officiated. At the end of the season, any funds not disbursed by the Association to the officials are returned to the City. According to the affidavit of Rhonda Brand, who was and had been the Athletic Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of the City, the City supervised the softball league during 1992. The City's supervision included receipt of team fees of $250.00 paid by the participating teams. The City obtained rosters of teams and put teams in various leagues or groups. The City scheduled the games, provided and maintained the fields, and turned the lights on and off as needed. At the end of the season the City paid for and awarded trophies. The teams or their sponsors paid for all uniforms, balls, bats, gloves, and equipment used by the teams. During the 1992 softball season, there were 774 softball games scheduled at the Sammie Davidson Complex. At the time of the accident, Rolison had been playing for a couple of months. The games were played and conducted under the rules of the American Softball Association of America (ASA). The Meridian Umpires Association (MUA) was not a part of the City government, but according to Brand, was a group of individuals who had special training as umpires. Their training and instruction were continued from time to time so that they would be competent sports officials. Two umpires officiated each game, including the game in which Rolison was injured on June 5, 1992. The umpires had the responsibility of enforcing the rules of the games, such as disciplining a player or team for unsportsmanlike conduct. They determined what discipline should apply as accorded under the rules. Discipline of a player could include ejection from a game for throwing bats. The discipline depended on the gravity of the situation, and the umpires' determination of the applicable rules. The umpires were trained and certified by the ASA as competent umpires, including the ones umpiring on the date in question. The MUA selected the umpires and chose the times they worked and the games they officiated. The City did not employ the umpires, did not have a right to discharge them, and did not pay them, except as provided in the contract. The City did not pay or withhold social security, unemployment, or income tax for the umpires, and did not provide any insurance for the MUA or its members. Mr. Howard Beeland, the president of the Meridian Umpire Association during the time of the accident, submitted an affidavit substantially verifying the City's version of the facts. Also, the commissioner of the ASA in Lauderdale County stated by affidavit that the ASA is a national softball organization and that the MUA's umpires were specially trained and experienced in serving as umpires during the 1992 softball games. Likewise, the Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Meridian, Allan Naylor, submitted an affidavit saying the MUA had a contract with the City to provide umpires for adult softball games.