Teen in chicken suit mobbed at pep rally gets $10.5M from California school district

A California school district agreed Wednesday to pay $10.5 million to a former student who suffered brain damage when he was mobbed while wearing a chicken costume at a pep rally.

Kern County High School agreed to settle a negligence lawsuit brought by Mitch Carter. Jurors on Monday held the school district entirely liable for his injuries. The phase of trial where jurors consider what damages to award was underway when the settlement was announced, said Ralph Wegis, an attorney for Carter.

The former Bakersfield High School student was wearing a chicken outfit to mock the Golden Eagle mascot of an opposing team when he was dogpiled by members of his school's football team at the pep rally in 2010.

"He's kicked, he's punched and he's got his head on the gym floor and there are 2- and 300-pound people piling on in a series of poundings," Wegis said. "It was just an out-of-control (scene), hyped-up kids."

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