The family of University of New Mexico football player Nahje Flowers, who took his own life last November, has filed a lawsuit, claiming the negligence of the school, UNM Head Coach Bob Davie and the NCAA led to the death of defensive lineman.
Flowers’ surviving parents — Vickie Gilmore and La’Vonte Flowers — are being represented by high-profile plaintiffs’ attorney Ben Crump, who previously represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown as well as the children from the Flint water crisis.
Flowers played in all 24 games in 2017 and 2018. He then played in six games last fall before taking his life days after a game at Nevada on November 2. The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The plaintiffs alleged that an autopsy revealed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, in Flowers’ brain, which they claimed is typically found in people who have a history of brain trauma, and has been linked to mental health issues, suicidal thoughts and depression.
The plaintiffs alleged that the NCAA — as the overseer of college sports — failed to design or implement sufficient policies to fulfill its duty of protecting student athletes’ health and well-being. This oversight was passed down to Davie and his employer, the UNM Board of Regents.
“They at best turned a blind eye, not following their procedures appropriately,” Crump told the media. “At worst, they just did not care enough about a young man who played football (and his) health when it stood in contrast with the big business of college football.”
He continued: “Even though there is no amount that can pay the debt that these parents are owed, we are hopeful that it would send a message that the next child who is struggling with mental health would be treated better than they treated Nahje Flowers.”
The plaintiffs are seeking punitive and compensatory damages that “sufficient to make the estate of Nahje Flowers whole for the wrongful death of decedent, including loss of future income and economic capacity, loss of the enjoyment of life (hedonic damages), loss of society and companionship of his parents and all other damages allowed by law.”
In addition, they are seeking a jury trial, pre- and post-judgement interest and any other “relief that the court deems proper.”
