Head-Trauma Cases Eyed As ‘Tidal Wave’ Headed To Courts

Bloomberg Legal has an in-depth analysis of head-trauma cases likely to head into U.S. courts, and one expert says it will be a “tidal wave,” but not just the NFL and pro athletes will be involved. Instead, pointing to a recently settled California case and other indicators, the observers from academia and the front lines say youth sports will become a bigger deal.

The report notes that “… repetitive head trauma often begins in youth sports, and the impact on young brains may be the key to future sports concussion litigation, the lawyers say. Developments in chronic brain injury diagnosis may also raise the odds of suits by youth and adult amateur players against equipment manufacturers, schools and non-profit sports leagues.”

The California case cited in the report “…  involves claims by the parents of a quadriplegic youth football player that Pop Warner league coaches trained their son to tackle with his helmet, increasing the likelihood of severe injury (Dixon v. Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., Cal. Super. Ct., No. BC526842, filed, 11/5/13).” The case was recently resolved in a confidential settlement for an undisclosed amount.