By Lee Davis
The lasting damage that concussions can cause has been widely reported in the media over the last couple years. Not surprisingly, dozens of lawsuits have rocked the NFL as well as a major class action being filed against the NCAA.
Arrington v. National Collegiate Athletic Association et al. was brought by former Eastern Illinois football player Adrian Arrington, accuses the NCAA of failing to protect student-athletes for decades despite being aware of the lasting effects of head injuries. The suit goes further, accusing the NCAA of refusing to implement needed changes for the sake of profits.
The suit specifically alleges that strategies employed by the coaching staff at various colleges and universities led to head injuries, and that the NCAA did nothing to implement procedures to screen for such harm. The plaintiff’s attorneys go on to fault the NCAA for failing to treat head injuries once they occurred, and for not developing a proper support system to care for players who had been injured and are no longer able to play. The suit points out that the organization rakes in upwards of $740 million in revenue each year, yet provides no salary, pension or medical benefits for the players that put themselves in harm’s way every game day.
In its answer, the NCAA did not deny making money, saying that it had revenues of $749.8 million in the 2009-2010 season. Nor did it dispute not providing financial compensation for players. The organization did disagree with the idea that it does not require member institutions to educate players about the seriousness of head injuries.
“Each member institution is responsible for protecting the health of its student-athletes,” the NCAA wrote in its response. The NCAA went on to say that “for decades it has provided appropriate information and guidance on concussions to its member institutions,” and that it encourages schools to educate athletes about “symptoms associated with concussions.”
The NCAA concluded by denying knowledge of the specific practices that Arrington alleges took place and which lead to the injury of so many players.
Lee Davis is the name partner of Davis & Hoss, PC in Chattanooga, TN
Source: “NCAA denies claims in concussion lawsuits from former football players,” by Alex Vorro, published at InsideCounsel.com.
