UC Davis volleyball player sues over ‘major facial injuries’ in game

A UC Davis beach volleyball player from San Francisco is suing the University of Oregon for more than  $850,000 after suffering what she calls “major facial injuries” in a game, according to a report published in the UO Daily Emerald student newspaper.

The complaint, filed in June, alleges that freshman Jane Seslar was struck by an umbrella during a windy game in April. Greg Kafoury, Seslar’s attorney, said in an interview with the Emerald that the umbrella caused a laceration on her chin that reached the bone.

The complaint alleges that the heavy umbrellas were taken down because of fears they would blow away, but that an assistant coach for the Oregon team put one back up. It was that umbrella, the complaint said, that struck Seslar in the face.

“Major facial scars on a pretty young woman deserve to be taken seriously,” Kafoury said in an interview with the Emerald. “Disfigurement is the term.”

The suit seeks $850,000 in non-economic damages for “disfigurement, pain, fear, anxiety, symptoms of posttraumatic stress, feelings of increased vulnerability, and interference with ordinary activities,” according to the complaint. Additional payment will be sought for medical costs and will be determined once Selsar has completed treatment, which may include another surgery for scar revision, Kafoury said.

“She went through a long period of being extremely afraid that the wound would open up because it was so deep and so long,” Kafoury told the Emerald.

Seslar is a 2018 graduate of Lowell High School in San Francisco and is majoring in psychology. She plays for Davis’ volleyball and beach volleyball teams. Her team profile says she is a granddaughter of Cas Banaszek, who played for the 49ers from 1968 to 1977. As a youth, she played for the highly ranked Vision Volleyball Club in Los Gatos.

The University of Oregon has until July 13 to respond to the complaint or the case will be automatically found in favor of Seslar, according to court documents. The university has not filed an answer to the complaint in court yet.

“We were very sad to hear about the UC Davis student’s injury, and we hope she is doing well,” UO spokeswoman Molly Blancett said in an emailed statement to the Emerald. “Student safety is one of the university’s highest priorities. We disagree with allegations in the complaint about what led to the injuries but are unable to provide additional information at this time due to the pending litigation.”