Paralyzed Vermont High Schooler Settles Suit Against School

A paralyzed former Vermont high school football player has settled a negligence lawsuit against the Barre school district just days before the case was scheduled to go to trial.

The details of the settlement between Derek Felix and the school were not released.

A trial had been scheduled to begin Monday.

Felix was a 16-year-old high junior at Barre’s Spaulding High School in 2005 when he was broke his neck trying to tackle an opponent on his second play in a game.

His lawsuit said Felix, of Barre, should not have been sent into the game because he hadn’t completed the minimum 10 practices and he had not been taught how to tackle.

The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus said Felix is a quadriplegic, but has limited use of his arms.