Swimmer Sues, Claiming Actions of Member of High School Water Polo Team Led to Concussion

Jun 18, 2021

A California man has sued the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the College of Marin after suffering a concussion because of the alleged negligence of a member of the Marin Catholic High School water polo team.

The plaintiff, David Steinberg, was using the Marin College pool as part of the Marin Aquatics Masters Swimming Club on Sept. 12, 2020, according to the lawsuit. At the same time, the Marin Catholic High School water polo team was holding a practice at the Olympic-sized pool.

Steinberg alleged that a member of the water polo team relocated the “backstroke flags,” which are used to warn swimmers that they are approaching the end of the lane. Specifically, he alleged that the flags were moved closer to the wall at the edge of the pool “in violation of national and international standards on where the flags are to be placed.”

Steinberg, “relying on the location of the flags, swam full speed and headfirst into the concrete side of the pool, sustaining a concussion,” according to his attorney, Matt White.

The complaint, filed in Marin County Superior Court, is seeking damages for medical expenses and lost earnings.

The college responded to the lawsuit with the following statement: “College of Marin is committed to providing a safe environment for users of all of its facilities, including the Indian Valley Campus Pool.”

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