Lawsuits

As a school owner, you train and take care of your students (your customers) and your students all love you. However, will they love you when they are injured while sparring? You may be able to defend yourself against any attacker, but can you defend yourself against a lawsuit brought by an aggressive lawyer.

For example, a long-time student is sparring while you supervise. As the pair approaches the wall, you call break. One student stops action and relaxes but the other does not hear the call to break and kicks the student in the face. The student shrugs it off, and completes class with no complaints. Then, weeks later, you receive a letter from a lawyer demanding $5,000 for the student's dental repairs due to the kick to the mouth, time lost from job, and pain and suffering. The letter states that, if you do not pay, a lawsuit will be filed against you and the school.

What do you do now? How could the student do this to you? What could you have done differently? Maybe you could have stepped between the students. You think, it just an accident; everyone knows no one was at fault.

You have no friends when it comes to money. If it costs someone money or if they are convinced they could get some money, some people will turn on you in a second. Some never take responsibility for their actions. If they are injured, it is never their fault. They need to blame someone else and that someone else will be the one with money.