Fairfield U. Lacrosse Player Sues School Claiming Bullying, Injuries
FAIRFIELD, CT — A former player on the Fairfield University men's lacrosse team is suing the school, claiming the team's coach, Andrew Baxter, bullied him into practicing even though the player had not fully recovered from a torn ACL and meniscus, which resulted in permanent damage to his knee.
James Kapralos, of Westbuy, New York, was recruited by Baxter to play defense for the team, though before suiting up for the Stags, Kapralos told Baxter that he had undergone reconstructive surgery for the torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee.
The injury had occurred in high school, according to the lawsuit , and Kapralos wanted assurances that he would not lose his scholarship if he was re-injured. Doctors had told Kapralos that he could be "more vulnerable to future injury" as a result of the reconstructive surgery.
"Baxter assured the plaintiff that Fairfield University lacrosse coaches and staff always took special care to ensure that injured players were well cared for and fully rehabilitated before returning to competition, assuring Kapralos personally, 'I'm going to take care of you,'" the lawsuit reads. "Baxter also told Kapralos that he would never have to worry about losing his athletic scholarship if he was injured as long as he was working to rehabilitate his injuries and return to the field and that his rehabilitation would not be rushed."
Kapralos accepted the scholarship and enrolled at the school in the fall of 2021, but during a practice in January 2022, he tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee again.
In February of that year, Kapralos again had reconstructive surgery on the knee, and was placed on the injured reserve list.
Kapralos rehabbed his knee throughout the summer of 2022, but was told during a checkup with his surgeon in August that he was not cleared to play, the lawsuit claims, and the medical and training staffs, and coaches, at Fairfield University were informed about that.
"Upon his return to lacrosse team practices in September 2022, coach Andrew Baxter informed Kapralos that he would be required to participate in a 'physical test' along with the rest of the lacrosse team to assess his current physical capabilities," the lawsuit reads. "When Kapralos protested that he was not supposed to partake in physical fitness tests, drills or other activities, coach Baxter told Kapralos that he would be required to participate if he wished to continue as a member of the team, saying he was 'sick of you just laying around' and that Kapralos needed to 'start contributing to the team' in some way."
Kapralos performed the drills well, and Baxter told him that he should return to the team in a full capacity.
"Kapralos again informed coach Baxter that he was not medically cleared to play or participate in any kind of contact or other drills, to which coach Baxter responded angrily, questioning, 'when are you going to participate with your team?' and 'what are you adding to our team sitting on the sidelines?'" the lawsuit reads.
Baxter required Kapralos to attend team meetings, practices and games, and after being late for a meeting, Kapralos was suspended from the team indefinitely, with Baxter saying that Kapralos was "worthless" and that Kapralos needed to think about how he could contribute to the team, the lawsuit reads.
In October 2022, the lawsuit alleges that Baxter gave Kapralos an ultimatum, "either return to full practice with the lacrosse team or leave the school and give up his scholarship."
To contribute to the team, Kapralos offered to mentor other injured players while he was on injured reserve, and would videotape practices and games, the lawsuit claims.
Later that month, Baxter is alleged to have forced Kapralos to practice with the team, even though he had not been medically cleared to play, saying "I'm the coach, you have to listen to me according to the contract you signed to play here."
The coach also sought to assure Kapralos that the team "would only be performing non-contact drills and said, 'I won't let you get hurt, but you have to listen to me and you have to practice with the team.'"
Kapralos wore a knee brace and participate in non-contact drills and avoided injury during those practices, but during a November 2022 practice, Kapralos forgot his knee brace and asked for permission to return to the locker room to retrieve it.
"Coach Baxter became incensed at this request, shouting at Kapralos in front of some of his teammates that if he wanted to get his knee brace, he could return to the locker room and clean his locker out and never return to the field," the lawsuit reads. "He ordered Kapralos to participate in the drills without his knee brace, saying 'it's non-contact, now get in there!'"
The drills during that practice turned physical, and after being hit by one of his teammates, Kapralos "felt a pop in his left knee and felt immediate pain in that area."
Kapralos soon learned that he "had suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament tear and medial meniscus tear in his left knee, causing him serious, permanent and irreparable injuries."
Attorney J. Craig Smith, with Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, P.C. which represents Kapralos, told Patch that his client should not have been placed in a position to re-injure his knee.
"While James was recovering from an ACL injury, Coach Baxter chose to repeatedly bully, intimidate and shame him into getting back on the field well before he was ready and medically-cleared to play," Smith said. "At age 21, James went from being a star college athlete to a young man in chronic pain with no chance of ever returning to the field or even running as a direct result of Coach Baxter's demeaning tactics and Fairfield University's negligence. James deserves some measure of justice from Fairfield University for the pain and suffering he has and will continue to endure throughout his lifetime."
The lawsuit is claiming negligence and breach of fiduciary duty, and is seeking damages in excess of $15,000.
In a statement to Patch, Jennifer Anderson, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at the university, said the school has the wellbeing of all of its students, faculty and staff at heart at all times.
"Fairfield University is committed to upholding the highest standards of care for our community," Anderson said in the statement. "We prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of all students, faculty and staff. As a matter of policy, the University is unable to comment on ongoing or pending litigation matters."
