Growing Awareness of Sports-Related Brain Injury
A concussion-related lawsuit brought against Pop Warner Youth Football League has ended with a settlement for an undisclosed amount. Filed in Wisconsin federal court in February 2015, the suit alleged that a 25-year-old man named Joseph Chernach, who had played football with Pop Warner between 1997 and 2000, died due to complications from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a form of dementia believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.
Chernach hanged himself in his mother’s shed in June of 2012. Shortly after his death, he was diagnosed with CTE. Realizing the link between their son’s diagnosis and his time spent playing contact sports, the Chernach family sued the company for $5 million, citing a failure to properly train coaches and to enforce limitations on hitting in practice.
The settlement is, indeed, an important one.
Some legal experts claim that the decision by Pop Warner to settle was entirely financial and could encourage others in similar situations to file lawsuits. The suit from which the settlement stems represents one of the first to be filed after Boston University researchers reported that former NFL players who played tackle football before age 12 showed greater declines in memory and cognitive function. It also comes on the heels of a nearly $1 billion settlement between the NFL and 20,000 retired players who sued over concussions and football-related trauma.
Troublingly, there is virtually no difference between a concussion and a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). And while the word “mild” may signal an ailment that is harmless and even treatable, repeated instances of TBI can actually lead to a lifetime to mental health issues and debilitating illness.
Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. are experienced personal injury lawyers eager to represent those who have suffered substantial harm due to sports-related brain injuries such as CTE. If you believe that you are suffering from CTE or know someone who has died due to complications of CTE, we may be able to help. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case.