Lawsuit: Judge suing CT town, 72-year-old instructor after breaking neck during pickleball lesson

BRIDGEPORT — A state judge is suing the town of Fairfield for injuries — including a broken neck — he said he suffered while taking lessons for pickleball at the town’s senior center.

Superior Court Judge William Wenzel of Fairfield broke his neck and ribs and injured his head, knee and hand when he ran headfirst into a concrete wall in the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities two years ago, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this week in Superior Court here.

Wenzel is seeking unspecified damages against the town and his instructor, 72-year-old Elizabeth Hulme of Fairfield.

“I’ve never been in a position like this before,” said Hulme, pickleball coordinator at the Bigelow Center. Among her former students was Betty Blake, mother of tennis pro James Blake.

Read more: https://www.ctinsider.com/news/ctpost/article/Judge-sues-town-over-pickleball-injuries-15944196.php


Elizabeth “Betsy” Hulme of Fairfield returns a shot in a pickleball match at the Fairfield senior center.
Photo: Mike Lauterborn / Mike Lauterborn