Decory Bryant case: Why did it take UGA so long to do the right thing?
The folks at Butts-Mehre botched the handling of the Decory Bryant case. (University of Georgia)
The news in the Athens Banner-Herald that the legal battle between the UGA Athletic Association and former football player Decory Bryant finally has been settled for $400,000 after more than five years prompts one big question: What took them so long?
Bryant had sued the athletic association because he said it was the athletic association’s fault he was denied an insurance policy that would have paid him as much as $500,000 after a neck injury ended his playing career in 2003.
It came out in documents filed in the case that the player had asked for the policy but an athletic association administrator failed to turn in the paperwork on time. But in December, Clarke County Superior Court Judge Lawton Stephens had dismissed Bryant’s suit, ruling that while the athletic association is a private corporation, it is legally an arm of the state and therefore falls under the doctrine of sovereign immunity.
Bryant’s attorney, Hue Henry, had planned to appeal, but that’s moot now that the athletic association has settled.
Ed Tolley, the athletic association’s lawyer, told the Banner-Herald that Mark Richt and UGA athletic officials wanted to pay for Bryant’s medical bills and rehabilitation costs all along. “The athletic association never intended not to work out some kind of monetary agreement with Decory Bryant,” Tolley said.
I know that part of the delay was the athletic association and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. went to court over who would have to pay legal costs in the case. But the bottom line is that if the athletic association intended all along to take care of Bryant, why make him wait five years and go through a court case? Why didn’t they just pay him up front? I’m sure any underlying legal/liability isues could have been taken care of in a simple settlement five years ago: The athletic association agrees to pay and the player agrees not to sue.
Instead, the athletic association did it the hard way and ended up looking like it didn’t care about the player.
It’s not as if UGA’s athletic association is hurting for money. And while there might not have been a specific legal obligation for the athletic association to pay Bryant’s medical bills, there was a definite moral obligation to take care of the young man. The athletic association makes millions of dollars off these kids; the least it can do is make sure they’re taken care of if they’re permanently damaged in some way while playing for the school.
As the frequent Bulldog Club solicitations seeking donations from fans remind us, “UGA student athletes need your support.”
That’s a sentiment the folks at Butts-Mehre should take to heart as well.
BASEBALL AND CHANCE RETURN TO ATHENS
David Perno’s Diamond Dogs, who went 2-2 last weekend in a mini tournament with Baylor and Duke in Texas, play their home opener today at 5 p.m. against Presbyterian at Foley Field (if the weather cooperates).
The best thing coming out of the first weekend of play was that sophomore center fielder Zach Cone hit .688 for the weekend (11-for-16), including hitting for the cycle in last Saturday’s loss to Duke, making him the first Bulldog to do that in six seasons. With most of Georgia’s big bats from last season now departed, the rise of Cone at the plate is welcome news.
Freshman infielder Chance Veazey, paralyzed from the waist down in a motor scooter accident last October, will be on hand at today’s game and will be introduced along with his teammates.
Fans attending games at Foley Field this season will have an opportunity to contribute to the Prayers for Chance fund set up for Veazey, who is now completing fall class work at home and plans to return to UGA fulltime next year and work with the baseball program. Fans are encouraged to contribute a dollar to the fund each time they attend a Bulldog home game. The Dogs drew more than 93,000 fans last year at Foley Field and have set a goal of raising $100,000 for Veazey.
The team is wearing a special “CV” logo on its uniforms and helmets in honor of Veazey this season. And a limited edition Georgia baseball team cap with the “CV” logo patch will be given to the first 500 fans this season who make a minimum donation of $20. The UGA Diamond Darlings will be outside the ballpark at each game this year collecting donations until the fourth inning. After that, they will be at a table at the end of the grandstand on the first base side of the stadium. Cash and checks will be accepted. Checks should be made out to “Prayers for Chance Fund.”
Go Dogs! GO CHANCE!
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96 comments Add your comment
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 24th, 2010
9:47 pm
Judge Stephens should have excused himself in this issue…
bigdawg88
February 24th, 2010
9:55 pm
Diamond Dog’s Parole Officer ,
Richt did speak up for the kid, but Richt doesn’t write the AA checks! Damon, probably at Adams’ urging, overrode the decision.
Head coaches are NOT all-powerful. They do have bosses, and there are things that they have little control over.
GO DAWGS, GATA!!
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer
February 24th, 2010
10:00 pm
Virginia Dawg-
Where did Bill state that the AA has “plenty of money?”
I don’t guess anyone should be upset at the situation. Not even the tax payers of public state university. I guess as long as everyone’s opinions matches with yours, then everything will be fine.
The bottom line is that Bryant wanted UGA to pay the premium on a policy that he was told was in effect. By a UGA official. (Hoke, rightg Bill L?) But when the UGA official made a mistake, they stated it wasn’t their fault. But in UGA’s defense, they got a VERY favorable ruling. One that would have had a strong chance of being turned over on appeal.
But in the end, all is well. The kid got 100,000 less than he would have originally had if the paperwork had been processed.. But I assume that there will be attorney fees and court costs subtracted. And CMR still gets free spray tans and a new F-150 every 6 months.
UGA is reaching out to recruits for next year’s class. Come to Athens. We’ll take care of you!
odells bbq
February 24th, 2010
10:22 pm
A couple things: I can’t stand this blog led by Bill. I’m sure he’s a nice guy but it’s an embarrassment to journalism majors (which just so happens to be a popular major at UGA and well-respected program). Also, the headline is misleading and does a disservice to UGA as it implies they do not care for their players. I thought this was a bulldog blog? Before publishing, how about doing some research into the matter (as legal issues are very complex and not just as easy as ‘let’s just settle for X amount’) instead of assuming it was all on UGA? Decory was the man and it’s terrible what happened, but let’s not make this a ‘Jump to Conclusions’ mat.
hind tit
February 24th, 2010
10:27 pm
if your going to blame anyone blame the blood sucking lawyers on both sides but no they have to butt heads for years and run up big legal fees possibley in the millions, then they tell them to settle for what they ask for to start with which they should have done to start with. this why health care is in the mess it’s in. any fool can fix a car if you replace all the parts with new ones. hire a lawyer with common sense that has a heart.
AutoSlug
February 24th, 2010
10:34 pm
College Football is big business. The College is trying to protect it’s interests, the player is trying to get what he thinks he deserves and the lawyers come out ahead of everyone.Same old —-!
jaxdawg
February 24th, 2010
10:53 pm
Well Bill, to answer your question, when you have a law suit staring you in the face for 5 years, you have to see how that is going to play out.
Perhaps a better question is: Why would it be a university’s responsibility to insure players or any other student? Everyone knows football is dangerous and the next play always holds the potential to be career-ending. I would think a smart player would and should arrange to be insured.
Objective Bystander
February 24th, 2010
11:15 pm
Have you considered possible NCAA violations — giving money to a player after case is legally dismissed in University’s favor?
Perhaps all the facts should have been investigated before this was written.
BAMA STAN
February 24th, 2010
11:18 pm
13 NATIONAL TITLES – 22 SEC TITLES!!!
And UGA fans wonder why the best players in State are going to BAMA, FLORIDA, AUBURN and TENNESSEE????
Way to step up for your players UGA. Over 5 years to do the right thing – having to get lawyers involved!
Embarrassing.
Totally Embarrassing.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!
Vols Rule
February 24th, 2010
11:26 pm
I used to respect UGA under Richt.
From 2001 to 2005 – he really put together a class act program.
Since then:
– Team has underachieved
– Become very undisciplined (penalties and alcohol arrest galore)
– Recruiting classes not strucutre for cohession year to year – meaning very inconsistent – and wind up with Joe Cox as a QB.
– BUT RICHT as EVOLVED into a CEO Coach!!!!
– And UGA does not take care of it’s injurred players.
UGA Football – what a frigging joke!!!
You don’t think that this will be used against you in recruiting – do you?
If I am a stud football player – UGA just dropped to the bottom of the list.
What a figging joke.
Dorsey Hill
February 25th, 2010
12:28 am
Why would the winner of a lawsuit decide to pay anyway? Because they wanted to all along. Clearly tolley was willing to pay decory 400k five years ago. Decory turned it down thinking he could get more in court. When he lost the university still offered to pay what they were willing to pay all along. The story here is that the school ALWAYS wanted to pay, just not every penny decory wanted. This, you idiots, is a positive story for UGA. They paid because it was the right thing to do. If they wanted not to pay then they didn’t have to.
bkbroila4224
February 25th, 2010
4:10 am
First of all….Nobody “failed to turn in the paperwork” as Decory claims….He never took out the policy in the first place…those policies are intended for professional prospects and cost the player/student thousands of dollars…Decory was not either of those…a bearer of $1000’s or a Pro Prospect…You have to take out the policy yourself…Play the blame game because your career ended, Decory….You made much more in this settlement than you ever would have in the pros…UGA was not liable to pay these “damages” and shouldn’t have….they took care of his medical bills and rehab and honored the guys scholarship to finish school with a degree if he wanted…It’s not like the kid was paralyzed…the doctor said his injury was risky didn’t recommend he continue in sports…So what? Happens everyday…The thing that sucks is that the lawyer will net %60 of the $400000 and poor Decory will be stuck in a higher tax bracket for the next few years…Decory Bryant wasn’t even a candidate for this insurance policy, and there is not a school out there who pays for their players to have these policies….Why did it take UGA so long to do the right thing??? Because they finally shut the lawyer up and paid him off….They damn sure didn’t have to….
bkbroila4224
February 25th, 2010
4:14 am
VolsRule…what the hell has Tennessee done this decade? I am pretty sure Mark Richt has a winning record against UT, so go log onto the Hillbilly Times and stay there…you’re making yourself look even dumber…
Bill
February 25th, 2010
6:39 am
Lawyers! That’s the answer to your question. The ban on lawyers being brought into the colony should have never been lifted.
Spike
February 25th, 2010
6:48 am
KJ You are right. Maybe, just maybe, that 12345678 idiot will finally shut up. That itself is worth $400,000.
AltamahaDawg
February 25th, 2010
7:23 am
Bill you sort of lowered yourself to every idiot rival posting in here by putting this out without the facts. Bama Stan, you don’t know a damn thing about this so save it. Actually, it’s not even what you think (because I doubt you are really that stupid) it’s just what you made up off the top of your head to take a shot at UGA, trolling the UGA blogs all day as you do. Totally embarassing? yea, I would say thats about right. I would be anyway.
Northern sympathizer
February 25th, 2010
8:07 am
Terrific article Bill. Shame on UGA for how it handled this.
those games meant nothing to tech
February 25th, 2010
8:14 am
IF YOU SPORTSWRITERS HAD HALF A BRAIN OR THE GUTS OF A BABY CHICKEN …YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE THE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR..BOARD AND EVERYONE ELSE AND FIND OUT THE DISGRACEFUL WAY vINCE DOOLEY WAS TREATED AND MANY OTHERS..JUST SO THE CURRENT BUNCH COULD CONTROL THINGS…course you guys are probably bought off too!
Skeptic
February 25th, 2010
8:15 am
What’s the over and under for Decory to snort all the cash up his nose?
Spike
February 25th, 2010
8:23 am
VOLS RULE, all that coming from a UT fan is really rich. Remember NuKeese? And enough with “friggin/figgin” stuff, moron.
hop
February 25th, 2010
8:47 am
bigdog88 has got it right, our pinhead athletic director brought this to adams and he fought it.
what a sorry way to take care of a player, who was botched by the system.
the guy who made the error should be fired!
what a pitiful situation and clearly sends the wrong message that uga does not care about their own players enough to take care of them the right way.
AltamahaDawg
February 25th, 2010
8:50 am
Hoke Wilder was fired. I’d say IF you didnt even know that much about this, you might want to rethink forming an absolute opinion.
AltamahaDawg
February 25th, 2010
8:54 am
Albert Hollis and David Jacobs come to mind.
VolsRule
February 25th, 2010
8:59 am
Spike – by the way – UGA, under the evolved CEO Coach that is Mark Richt, has a 10 – 10 SEC EAST record over the last 4 years.
Sad thing is – Richt is a lot like Fulmer – although Richt has not won a National Title. He became a CEO style coach – and we slid back into the pack – found ourselves fighting for 4-4 SEC records – then teams with new “HOT” coaches like UGA passed us in the dust.
But the worm turns – Richt is now stale – Tennessee is bottoming out this year and next – but rebuiliding (and still have beaten UGA 3 of the last 4 years – all by blow out!!!
NOT BRAGGING – but reminding you that TENNESSEE has had less talent and has not been very good – but during this stretch – we have OWNED UGA. What does this say about UGA???
IT very important to judge your program over the last 3 – 4 years – while viewing your roster/ depth chart / and recent recruiting trends to really understand the state of your program – and get a feel for the direction. What happened in 2001 – 2005 is now ancient history and it is no longer relevent. Focus on the last 3 seasons.
Yes – TENNESSEE is having it’s problems. Yes – we embarrassed ourselves and the SEC with LAME KIFFIN – but I think we now have a solid serious coach – and will have to be patient the next couple of seasons.
What does this mean? – Better beat us now – if you can.
However – IF UGA has another 4-4 season this year in the SEC – give Richt another season – if that one is also 4-4 – better find another coach. These guys get PAID way too much money to settle in for being mediocre.
Auburn Pride
February 25th, 2010
9:08 am
Agree with BAMA STAN and VOLS RULE – this is embarrassing for UGA and WILL be used against you in recruiting.
This is not the same UGA football program that made us Auburn fans really nervous in the first half of the decade.
Yeah – UGA has beaten us several years in a row – but AUBURN has been mediocre – and at least we are doing something about it……and we take care of our players.
I would think Richt – a veteren coach – would be better than this:
- but then I look at how he botched up the defensive coach hiring
- how he broke that kids heart in Carver – Columbus (those kids are staying away from UGA – Crowell likes Alabama – but is also liking Auburn)
- How the team has gone 10-10 in the SEC East the last 4 years.
Can’t blame this on the Willie Martinez – this is Richt’s program.
At any rate – keep up the good work!!!! This is helping AUBURN get better recruits and we will own UGA again soon!
AltamahaDawg
February 25th, 2010
9:13 am
Auburn fan agrees with two other rivals trolling the UGA blog today…shocking.
AltamahaDawg
February 25th, 2010
9:42 am
If Auburn were so on the move up and soon to “own Uga” and Richt runs such a terrible program, it’s interesting that you think your coaches are going to have to use some legal issue from 5 yrs ago as a way to recruit player to come there. That speaks about as highly of your pride as the Bama fan that thinks that the reason good players from Georgia go to Bama is NOT Nick Saban or the results of the teams, it’s Decory Bryant.
Admit it, you guys are just pulling this stuff out of your butts to have something to say in a UGA blog and pretend it’s an opinion.
Wow, bkbroila4224 is the only...
February 25th, 2010
9:50 am
Enter your comments here
Wow, bkbroila4224 is the only...
February 25th, 2010
9:55 am
…one to have responded to this topic who has a clue –
ANd, Bill, this is a shoddy piece of “journalism” – yes I know you are a UGA journalism school graduate, but you missed the first rule here in failing to understand what the whole process of “insuring” against injury really entails. You make the school sound less than caring, giving fuel to the entire issue. But then as the esteemed Lewis Grizzard once said, “why expect a newspaper to give solid information when all the paper costs is a quarter” – you proved this, unfortunately, and you owe the university and your readers an apology for this shoddy work.
Spike
February 25th, 2010
10:22 am
Auburn Pride. You have guts coming o0n here talking smack, especially after losing to UGA four years in a row. We own your arses, you boob.
Spike
February 25th, 2010
10:23 am
Vols Rule. Excellent. No “friggin” this time. Atta boy.
ozzfest
February 25th, 2010
10:30 am
IT BECAME OBVIOUS TO ME WHEN DAMON EVANS ALLOWED OKLAHOMA STATE TO CHARGE UGA SEASON TICKET HOLDER $100 PER TICKET TO THE 2009 GAME IN STILLWATER (I PAID IT – I WAS THERE.), AFTER WE CHARGED THEIR SEASON-TICKET HOLDERS $45 FOR THE 2007 GAME IN ATHENS THAT THE DUDE IS ONE COLD, BUSINESS MAN. PERIOD.
THE FACT THAT HE HELD OUT ON PAYING BRYANT’S REQUEST OF $500,000 FOR 5 YEARS ONLY TO END UP PAYING $400,000 TO SETTLE CONFIRMS THAT HE LISTENS TO ATTORNEYS AND LAWYERS MORE OFTEN THAN HE SHOULD.
…OH, AND THANKS FOR THE CRAPPY SCHEDULE FROM 2010 – 2014.
AFTER BOULDER WE HAVE SUPER-EXCITING TRIPS TO “CLEMSON” AND “LOUISVILLE” TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
THANK GOD FOR ONE COOL GAME….EUGENE IN 2015.
(THOUGH YOU NOTICE UGA HAS REMOVED, I REPEAT REMOVED; THEIR FUTURE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES THAT WERE ONCE POSTED ON GEORGIADOGS.COM…THAT OUT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING RIGHT THERE.)
Former lawyer
February 25th, 2010
11:02 am
I know for a fact this dragged on because Decory (or his lawyer) wanted more than that $400,000. UGA did nothing wrong in this and was pretty admirable in still paying $400,000 despite being in a position to pay nothing. This article does a great disservice to the school, its lawyers, and its athletic department.
joe robby
February 25th, 2010
11:24 am
You can blame ambulance chasers for Decory not being taken care of by now. Despite the snafu by a certain former UGA employee the association was willing to give him the $500,000 just as if he had the insurance policy, only it would come from them. But then some attorneys started contacting the Bryant family telling them that they could get so much more than that.
In the end, Decory ends up with less money and those attorneys making all of those promises have made a nice profit. It’s a sad siuation that shouldn’t have been allowed to happen in the first place. But the Bryant family made a bad decision. Decory is the one paying for it.
joe robby
February 25th, 2010
11:29 am
Auburn Pride, didn’t have to pay him a dime. But they were going to pay him $500,000 just as if he had an insurance policy.
If this is used against UGA in recruiting (likely will) it will be based on lies and disinformation. Schools with no ethics like Alabama and Tennessee (although Dooley may not take this rout especially given what he surely knows) may use that tactic. If Auburn does, then its no better than those two historically reprobate programs.
There is so much trust and respect between Auburn and UGA that our two schools don’t use a lot of contracts with one another. The people involved at both schools are good people whose word is good enough. So I would hope that representatives at Auburn wouldn’t be trying to use this against UGA when its the Bryant family’s fault for listening to ambulance chasers.
joe robby
February 25th, 2010
11:37 am
Bill, you asked why if UGA was going to take care of Decory all along why didn’t they just pay him 5 years ago. Obviously, the $500,000 isn’t coming out of your pocket. There was a legal question about the process as to whether or not UGA or the insurance co. would pay because of the association between UGA and the company.
Your article suggests that UGA wasn’t paying Decory’s bills all along. From what I understand that is not true.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 25th, 2010
11:41 am
Use this against us in recruiting? Sure go ahead and then the kids will find out that UGA did the right thing here. If the kids are so inclined to ask about Decorey then they will receive an honest answer.
robodawg
February 25th, 2010
1:08 pm
Glad Decory finally got something, and that the Athletic Association gave it to him on its own. I can’t believe that “sovereign immunity” crap is now out there though. So now the state is above the law?!
bkbroila4224
February 25th, 2010
2:21 pm
Speaking of “sovereign immunity”….John Oxendine is running for governor…I hope Georgians are smart enough to place their votes elsewhere, being that this criminal relies on sovereign immunity to break the law every chance he gets since the state is above the law in many cases….
AltamahaDawg
February 25th, 2010
2:58 pm
I guess I give the Bama, AU, and TN coaches a lot more credit than thier own fans. I assume they would prefer to recruit based on what is good about thier own program, and wouldn’t be so stupid as to give the UGA coaching staff a golden opportunity by tossing out innuendo’s that any kid’s parents can easily get the story. Not to mention……how lucky would the UGA coaching staff be to get asked a question that lets them march out example after example of injured players getting taken care of, ……or ………I don’t know, maybe a coupel of recruits that got injured and still had thier free ride protected. Yea, PLEASE try to use this agasint UGA in recruiting.
I guess these rivals don’t give thier own coaches a lot of credit. Or they pulled that out of thier butts, for lack of an actual qualified opinion.
jw
February 25th, 2010
4:52 pm
The article states that his medical and rehab bills were paid at the time. I believe this money is over and above the med bills. This is more of a compensation issue.
joe
February 25th, 2010
7:27 pm
“Are all members of the team covered by a policy of this type and if not why?”
To h*ll with that noise. The vast majority of players have no hope of ever playing at the next level. The AA should not spend a fortune every year on mega-buck insurance policies for kids like Joe Cox. Only guys like Stafford, Moreno, Green, Jeff Owens, Geno Atkins, etc., are the types of players who need insurance policies. These kids are already getting a free ride, and will get their medical care taken care of in case of a severe injury. They assume a risk by simply playing football that UGA should not be responsible for, especially if they aren’t losing millions from injuries, by not being NFL caliber players.
ncdawg
February 26th, 2010
11:21 am
I heard UGA only gave Preston Jones $10k for his medical expenses associated with him having to get his right wrist fused together due to the alumni game in 1989. That injury cost Jones his career at UGA. Jones was very loyal and he could have transferred. Damn good dog
bigdawg88
February 26th, 2010
11:06 pm
The AA can’t spend money on the insurance policies for these kids, the kids or their parents have to pay for it. Otherwise it’s an improper benefit. He inquired about the policy and got hurt TWO days later. There is no way the application would have been processed in time. If the kid had the money he could have applied for insurance on his own.
This is unfortunate, but UGA did the right thing and shouldn’t suffer in recruiting for this. Probably will though, but any kid who doesn’t really look into this on his own doesn’t need to be at UGA anyway. Besides, look at the kids who got injured in high school BEFORE they signed, and Richt (and UGA) gave them scholarships anyway. As Richt has said, once a Bulldawg, always a Bulldawg. Some of you guys need to read more articles in other sources and you’ll see the AA wanted to do right, but got bogged down by Decory’s lawyers wanting a lot more than $500K.
The other delay was the AA’s liability insurance carrier not wanting to pay anything. This wasn’t the Bryant’s policy this is the general liability policy the AA takes out on themselves in case they get sued. Sort of like the liabliity insurance on your homeowner’s policy. Their insurance company didn’t want to pay at all and tried to finagle out of it. That was between the insurace company and the AA. Some of you seem to be confused about that.
This is all water under the field now! Let’s GATA DAWGS!!!
Reality
February 27th, 2010
9:05 am
The reason is clear: LAWYERS!!!!!!!
Football Fan
March 4th, 2010
8:01 pm
From an attorney, talking about getting a policy and actually getting a policy are two different things. If UGA paid money to every kid with a serious injury they would be bankrupt quickly. The school “did the right thing” but had no legal obligation to do so. Bryant might not have even been picked in the draft at all.