A jury has awarded $11.5 million to the family of high school football player who suffered traumatic brain damage during a practice, with helmet maker Riddell held liable for $3.1 million of the damages, according to the Associated Press.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14/riddell-helmet-maker-lawsuit-negligent_n_3082260.html
A jury in Denver issued the award to the family of Rhett Ridolfi, who sustained brain damage and paralysis on his left side after suffering a concussion at Trinidad High School in 2008, AP reported. The youth is now 22.
His family brought a negligence lawsuit that named Riddell as one of its defendants, charging that the helmet maker failed to warn players about the dangers of concussions. Pending suits filed by 4,000 past and present NFL players make the same allegations against Riddell, AP said.
Three defendants in the Ridolfi case had already reached settlements, so the trial was on whether Riddell and two coaches were liable for the youth’s brain injuries. The jury found that Riddell was liable for 27 percent, hence $3.1 million of the total $11.5 million verdict.
AP had a statement from Riddell.
“While disappointed in the jury’s decision not to fully exonerate Riddell, we are pleased the jury determined that Riddell’s helmet not defective in any way,” the statement said.
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