A painter sued University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick for nearly $300,000 in April, alleging he had “serious bodily injuries” while painting at the coach’s house. According to the painter, “dangerous and unsafe” working conditions led to his injuries.
The painter, Andrew Jackson, claims in his lawsuit that while working on Bill Belichick’s home in Nantucket, Massachusetts, “the placement, use, and/or maintenance of plastic sheeting or coverings and other unsafe site conditions in the work area,” caused him to slip and fall while working.
“As a direct and proximate result of the fall, plaintiff sustained serious bodily injuries including a severe right ankle injury, together with pain, disability, medical expenses, lost wages, and other consequential damages,” the lawsuit claims.
Belichick purchased the 2,854-square-foot property in May 2024 for $4.84 million, and a limited liability company registered to the coach, Forty Five Fair Street LLC, manages the property.
The painter also claims that “as a direct and proximate result of defendant’s negligence, plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer bodily injury, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress, medical expenses, lost wages and impairment of earning capacity, loss of function and enjoyment of life, and such other damages as may be proven at trial.”
Bill Belichick strongly disagrees with the painter’s reasons for suing
In their initial response to the lawsuit in June, Bill Belichick’s lawyers called the painter’s lawsuit “frivolous” and “wholly unsubstantiated.” They asked the court to grant the coach “attorney’s fees and costs incurred defending this frivolous action.”
This week, the Nantucket Current reports that Belichick’s attorneys are demanding a jury trial and have filed a third-party complaint against a local contractor, Levesque Builders, which hired the painter to work at the home.
Belichick’s lawyers now argue that he should not bear responsibility for damages, regardless of whether Jackson was hurt. They believe that because Levesque initially hired Jackson as a subcontractor and to supervise all work done on the property, the contractor is responsible for paying most, if not all, of any damages awarded in court.
“If Mr. Jackson was injured while performing painting work at the Property – which 45 LLC denies – his injuries were sustained as a result either of his own negligence or fault in performing the work, or Levesque’s negligence or fault in failing to direct, control, manage and/or supervise the work,” the filing reads.