(UPDATE) Why Is a Little League Coach Suing a 14-Year-Old Baseball Player?

Update (8:01 p.m. ET): Appearing on Fox News Thursday, Beck said he'd drop the lawsuit in return for an apology from Paris' son:

Little league coach Alan Beck who's suing 14-year-old told @ShepNewsTeam he'd drop suit w/apology. Strange guy: pic.twitter.com/Vqy52PJcxl

— Dave Briggs (@davebriggstv) January 16, 2014

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A former little league baseball coach is suing a 14-year-old ball player in a lawsuit that begins with a celebratory helmet toss.

The ball player’s father, Joe Paris, who asked that his son not be identified, said his son his threw his batting helmet in the air as he rounded third base and made his way home for the game-winning run.

But this is where the story takes an ugly turn.

The little league coach, Alan Beck, said in court papers that Paris' helmet caught him in the ankle and severed his Achilles tendon.

Joe Paris said his son's helmet caught the little league coach in the ankle (screen grab)

So Beck is suing the 14-year-old ballplayer and his family for more than $500,000 “for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills,” WFSB-TV reported.

"I thought it was a joke," Joe Paris said, referring to thecourt summons. "Then I realized it absolutely wasn't. Now I think it's absurd."

Beck told WFSB-TV he couldn’t comment on the suit until he had heard back from his lawyer.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Paris said.

The father questioned how his son could be held liable.

"Number one there was no intent," Paris said.

Bill Portanova, a legal expert, told the local news team that Beck’s case will be a tough one to prove, noting that the sport already involves all sorts of flying objects, including bats and balls.

"There's a good chance whoever responds to lawsuit will get it dismissed because the plaintiff signed on for contact," Portanova said. "Because baseball is a contact sport."

WFSB 3 Connecticut

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