The widow of a soccer referee who was killed by a punch filed a $51 million lawsuit against the player who threw the punch and the soccer league. The lawsuit represents $1 million for each year the 44-year-old referee could have potentially lived until 95 years old. It accuses the league of allowing the now-imprisoned, violent player to play without reprimand.

1. Soccer ref's widow files $51 million lawsuit against player who
killed husband
Lawsuit also names soccer league
Author: Crystal Ross, ClickOnDetroit intern, cross@wdiv.com
Published On: Apr 03 2015 12:23:23 PM EDT Updated On: Apr 03 2015 06:20:31 PM EDT
DETROIT -
The widow of a Detroit-area soccer referee filed a $51 million lawsuit Friday against Bassel Saad, the man who is in
prison for throwing the punch that killed her husband during a game last summer.
The figure represents $1 million for each of the 51 additional years that John Bieniewicz, 44, could have lived, according
to the lawsuit in Wayne County Court.
Cited by his doctor, the lawsuit described Bieniewicz, who had two children, as extremely healthy with the potential to
live to age 95.
Kristen Bieniewicz, of Westland, who is the representative of her husband’s estate, is suing Saad and another man who
controlled the team and the Michigan United Soccer League.
The lawsuit accuses the soccer league of allowing Saad to play despite his reputation as a violent player.
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2. Saad, 37, was recently sentenced to at least eight years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
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