Dick Wertheim

Richard Wertheim (c. 1923—September 15, 1983) was an American tennis linesman who suffered a fatal injury on September 10, 1983, during a match at the 1983 US Open.[1] He was injured when Stefan Edberg sent an errant serve directly into his groin.[2] Wertheim was sitting in a chair and officiating at the center line. The blow knocked him backwards and he fell out of the chair onto the hardcourt surface, striking his head.[3] He had a history of chronic cardiovascular disease having had a heart attack and stroke at age 40 years.[4] Wertheim was unconscious when he was taken to Flushing Hospital Medical Center. He died on September 15.[5] His family sued the United States Tennis Association for $2.25 million.[6] In an opinion suggesting that the impact of the tennis ball had not been the proximate cause of his death, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York reversed a $165,000 jury award to his estate.[4] Following this event, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) refrained from having linesmen sitting during plays.