State of Origin and North Queensland star Francis Molo is set to be sensationally sued for a fatal shoulder charge.
Sonya Ackerman, whose son James suffered bleeding on the brain following a shoulder charge by Molo in 2015 and died two days later, says that the death left her with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Ackerman is also seeking damages from the Brisbane Broncos and Norths Devils, alleging that Molo was well known by both clubs to use shoulder charges during the game despite the move being outlawed by the NRL back in 2013.
It is alleged that almost $375,000 will be claimed in damages for personal injuries following the alleged negligence and breach of duties of the defendants.
Mrs Ackerman is claiming $373,646 in damages for personal injuries as a result of the alleged negligence and breach of duties of the defendants.
James had been playing at prop for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in June 2015, when he was fatally injured, with Molo then playing for Brisbane’s feeder club Norths Devils.
The current Cowboys star, who made his State of Origin debut for Queensland last year, was given a nine-match suspension after Queensland Rugby League Judiciary Tribunal found him guilty of a “grade five” shoulder charge.
The shoulder charge inflicted some horrific injuries on James with the list including a dissection of the right intracranial internal carotid artery, a traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage. He never regained consciousness and died on June 22, 2015.
“I never wanted to hurt anyone, especially playing rugby league,” Molo told the Courier Mail last year.
“I felt so sorry for them. You never expect that to happen in football.
“It was pretty full-on and I never expected it to ever happen. I felt so bad.”
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S Grundy
January 15, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Unfortunate accident. Happens in all contact sports. Will to win clouds mentality.
Disillusioned
January 25, 2022 at 4:27 am
I am no lawyer, but I would think she would need to show that the shoulder charge was not Careless or Reckless, but was Intentional. If she can’t, then I think Mr Grundy’s view will hold sway – it’s a contact sport and sometimes things go badly wrong, by accident.
“Fragile Frankie” may have been “well known” (by whom?) for using shoulder charges, back then, but he has since got it out of his game. You’d could say the same about many other forwards in the years immediately following the banning of shoulder charges.
I dare say his mother will find some lawyer to act “pro-bono” and provide her legal services for nothing. Trouble is, she’s left it a long time before complaining.
Peter V’Landys and Andrew Abdo would be justified in saying, “it’s a shame, but it happened well before our watch. We have being making the NRL a lot safer over the last few years. Neither the NRL nor any club should be held responsible today for something that took place years ago, especially when it looks like it was accidental.”
I can’t see the NRL throwing a club under the bus.
Reality Check
January 16, 2022 at 4:23 am
Guess she’s running low on cash for shopping lol shes deluded if she thinks she can sue a club for a players action