{{short description|American tennis linesman}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} '''Richard Wertheim''' ({{Circa|1923}}{{mdash}}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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/jon_wertheim/10/19/mailbag/2.html |title=Czech yourself (pt. 3) |accessdate= 5 March 2017 |last=Wertheim |first=Jon |date=2005-10-19 |work=SI.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130173951/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/jon_wertheim/10/19/mailbag/2.html|archive-date=2008-01-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was injured when Stefan Edberg sent an errant serve directly into his groin.<ref>{{cite news |title=Odd mishap fells tennis official |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fwIMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jFkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7153,2693520 |work=Evening Independent |location=St. Petersburg, Fla. |page=3-C |date=12 September 1983 |accessdate=20 November 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tennis serve kills official|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kXImAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gv4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4816,1253853&dq=dick+wertheim+tennis&hl=en|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=The Afro American|date=24 September 1983}}</ref> He had a history of chronic cardiovascular disease, having had a heart attack and stroke at age 40 years.<ref name=":0" /> Wertheim was unconscious when he was taken to Flushing Hospital Medical Center. He died on September 15.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120712133128/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gq80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=joYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1482,4030573&dq=richard+wertheim+tennis&hl=en "Digest ..Us Open Linesman Dies"] Tri City Herald 17 September 1983</ref> His family sued the United States Tennis Association for $2.25 million.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/06/sports/tennis-group-sued-over-death.html "Tennis Group Sued Over Death"] ''The New York Times'' 6 September 1984</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">[http://www.leagle.com/decision/1989307150AD2d157_1281.xml/WERTHEIM%20v.%20UNITED%20STATES%20TENNIS%20ASS%27N,%20INC. WERTHEIM v. UNITED STATES TENNIS ASS'N, INC.]</ref> Following this event, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) refrained from having linesmen sitting during plays.

==See also== *List of unusual deaths in the 20th century

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wertheim, Dick}} Category:1983 deaths Category:American referees and umpires Category:Sports deaths in New York (state) Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:Deaths from falls Category:1920s births

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