Charlotte basketball player James Hampton dies at AAU game in Virginia.

James Hampton, a North Carolina AAU youth basketball player collapsed during play and passed away as a result of a sudden medical emergency on May 26, 2018.  The 17 year old young man played for Team United, which is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. The team was playing in Hampton, Virginia at a Nike Elite Youth Basketball League event in VA.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the team’s director, Mr. Jacoby Davis as saying that James Hampton was running and turned to say something to a referee Saturday night when he collapsed.  Mr. Davis added that emergency paramedics did chest compressions on the young man on the court before he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The James Hampton  was a student at Liberty Heights school in Charlotte and was scheduled to graduate after one more year at the school.

Based on reports it is not known whether an Automated External Defibrillator “AED” was available at the facility where the game was taking place.  These devices are able to save lives in certain situations and they can counter-act sudden cardiac arrest by delivering a shock to the heart that can normalize heart rhythms.

Is there a potential liability case?

In some jurisdictions there are requirements that AED machines must be on site at various types of businesses and facilities that are open to the general public.  Under certain circumstances a private business owner or other group or individual can be liable for injuries and or deaths that could have been treated or prevented by the correct use of a properly functioning and available AED machine.  These laws vary by state and before any conclusion of liability against such a business or individual can be made, a thorough investigation of the incident along with a thorough evaluation of the law (by a licensed attorney of that jurisdiction) must take place.

If you or someone you know has been injured or passed away because of the lack of a properly functioning AED machine being made available during a medical emergency, there may be potential compensation available to the injured person and or the estate of  a person that passed away.  Our lawyers proudly serve the Carolinas and if you or a loved one was injured because of someone else’s negligence, we would like to speak to you. Consultations are always free and our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-855-969-5671 for your free case evaluation.