The University of Central Florida Athletic Association has been denied a new trial by an Orange County judge in the death of former player Ereck Plancher.
Additionally, the university will still have to pay $10 million to Plancher’s family, the Orlando Sentinel writes. “I don’t second-guess juries unless there simply is no evidence on which they could have based their verdict,” Circuit Judge Robert Evans said.
Lawyers of the UCFAA were asking for either a new trial in the wrongful death of Plancher, or a reduction in the damages awarded to Plancher’s family, citing ruling and procedural errors. The UCFAA’s primary argument was that the organization is a state agency and should have been granted sovereign immunity. Entities with such designations can only pay up to $200,000 in civil judgments under Florida law.
Last month, a six-member Orange County jury found the UCFAA to have been negligent in Plancher’s death, which occurred during offseason workouts in 2008.
