Florida Court Reduces Amount Awarded to Family of UCF Player Who Died

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Florida appeals court has reduced a $10 million award to $200,000 in a wrongful death suit filed by the family of a University of Central Florida football player who died following conditioning drills in 2008.

The court, however, Friday denied the University of Central Florida Athletic Association a new trial.

A three-judge panel rejected UCF's arguments it was denied a fair trial based on limited presentation time and ruled that a medical release form Ereck Plancher signed did not expressly waive his rights to sue UCFAA.

It did rule UCF's power of control over its athletics association is sufficient for sovereign immunity afforded to state agencies, reducing the original award the 19-year-old's parents received in July 2011. Any award above $200,000 now has to be approved by the legislature.