For former collegiate football players suffering from conditions like Parkinson’s and early onset Dementia, an ongoing concussion trial in Pittsburgh could be pivotal. A former California University of Pennsylvania football player is suing the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) alleging the organization failed to protect him from the long-term effects of concussions sustained during play.
The former football player and student played for the university from 1999 to 2003. He went on to become a Pennsylvania firefighter, but was eventually crippled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He alleges the hits he took while playing football for Penn caused the development of ALS. The NCAA has known for decades that repeated impacts to the head can cause serious long-term side effects. Unfortunately, instead of warning student athletes and implementing concussion protocols, the organization stayed silent.
This trial will be incredibly important for former players because it’s the first trial specifically involving ALS. The outcome of the trial could set a precedent for many former college football players seeking justice from the NCAA. This will be the second NCAA concussion lawsuit to go to trial so far in the litigation. The first trial began last June and was settled just days after the trial began.
Safeguarding Student Health
The NCAA was established in 1906 with the purpose of making collegiate sports safer for athletes. The organization is currently charged with safeguarding the health and wellbeing of over 400,000 students. These students bring in millions of dollars in revenue for the association, but doing so can take an extreme toll on their health. It took the NCAA decades to implement concussion protocols to help prevent the long-term side effects of concussions and players have paid the price.
Find Out More About The NCAA Lawsuits
Raizner Law is representing former collegiate football players in lawsuits against the NCAA. If you played collegiate football and sustained concussions during play, contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can help you hold the NCAA accountable. We only work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost for working with us, and you won’t owe us anything unless we help you recover compensation.
