It is no secret that Americans will sue anyone for anything and everything. Just check out this latest example of the need for tort reform or a loser pays legal system.

Andrew Bourne, now 23, of Liberty was paralyzed after the goal post fell on him, breaking his back. Bourne has been paralyzed since then, said his attorney, Scott Montross.

"All we want for [Gilman] to do is build goal posts that don't snap and that don't come crashing down on people," Montross told The Star Press..

Bourne is suing Gilman Gear of Gilman, Conn., because their football goal post installed at Ball State University fell on him. Just what was Bourne doing at the time? He was celebrating with a group of Ball State fans, many of which were climbing onto the goal posts trying to tear them down, after an upset win over Toledo in October 2001.

Nobody likes to see college kids get hurt, but it is not the responsibility of the NCAA, Ball State, or Gilman Gear to keep Bourne from hurting himself. College campuses don't usually allow students onto the field after games, and they certainly do not permit them to vandalize the stadium. Yet that is exactly what Bourne was doing when he went out onto the field after the game. He put himself in harms way, and he has only himself to blame for his injury. The school probably should have had him arrested and charged for trespass.

As an aside, I will note that goal post manufacturers and some venues are taking measures to prevent just such a tragedy. For instance, Virginia Tech's goal posts are hinged. When fans rush the field, the stadium crew simply pulls out the hinge pin and lowers the 500 lb. goal posts to the ground before they get there. To date, the system is only installed at 4 stadiums across the U.S.

While it is nice of Virginia Tech to take such a precaution, they have no obligation to do so. Especially since sometimes no matter what you do, you cannot protect people from themselves.