Bryan Namoff, whose successful career as a defender for D.C. United was cut short by a concussion, has sued the team and its former coach Tom Soehn
Namoff’s complaint, which was filed a little over a month ago in D.C. Superior Court, alleges that D.C. United was “negligent in its management, care and treatment” of a concussion he suffered during a 2009 MLS match at RFK Stadium.
Namoff, 33, claims that he suffered brain damage and cognitive, memory and sensory loss. He also has permanent headaches and fatigue, sleep problems and hypersensitivity to motion. Namoff, along with his wife, are seeking $12 million ($10 million for medical negligence and $2 million for the impact on their marriage).
The incident occurred on September 9 when Namoff collided in mid-air with a Kansas City Wizards player, “causing a blow to plaintiff’s head just behind his right temple by the shoulder blade of the opponent,” according to the complaint. “There was a visible snapping of his neck violently back to the left. Namoff was able to get up on his own; however, (Dr. Christopher Annunziata and Commonwealth Orthopedics) never left the sidelines to examine Namoff. (The plaintiff) felt lost and out of it but finished the game.” Allegedly, Namoff wasn’t treated. He remained in the match. Afterward, the plaintiff claimed he told team doctors that “he did not feel right,” and that “the lights were hazy, and that he had no peripheral vision.” Namoff continued to suffer headaches and fatigue for days, according to the complaint. He allegded that Soehn knew of his symptoms. But three days later, the coach inserted him into a match against Seattle, without follow-up exams or reassessments by team doctors.
“Namoff’s reaction to the game was slow; it was the worst game of his career,” according to the complaint. “Throughout the game, Namoff experienced and exhibited post-concussive symptoms, which were significantly exacerbated by the end of the game. “ … As a direct and proximate cause of the defendant’s aforesaid negligence, Namoff has suffered serious permanent and disabling damage to his body including … permanent traumatic brain injury; permanent cognitive deficits and memory problems; permanent fatigue; permanent headaches; permanent vestibular problems; permanent visual motion hypersensitivity; and sleep problems; he has incurred … medical, hospital, rehabilitative, and pharmaceutical expenses in an effort to treat his injuries.”
Annunziata reportedly continued to work with D.C. United until 2010. He is currently head orthopedic physician for the Washington Redskins.
Soehn, meanwhile, is the Vancouver Whitecaps’ director of soccer operations.
Namoff is represented by Steve Shapiro of Fleishman & Shapiro, P.C. inDenver, who has represented numerous other plaintiffs in concussion suits around the country, and Joseph Cammarata of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, PC in Washington, D.C. Cammarata authored the Athletic Concussion Protection Act—a 2011 law that set guidelines for athletes age 18 and under in the District of Columbia who suffer head injuries.
Other notable MLS players, who have retired prematurely because of concussions are Alecko Eskandarian, Josh Gros, and Devon McTavish.
