OFF THE WIRE
Could this case open the door for helmeted motorcyclist that are
injured. Or will helmet manufactures, and DOT (who would also be named
in a law suit) admit that a helmet is not safe over a fast run... and
back off. What will the insurance industry do???
http://www.thescore.com/home/articles/807837
Colo. jury finds Riddell negligent in helmet suit.
By The Associated Press
April 14, 2013
DENVER (AP) A Colorado jury
has awarded $11.5 million to a man whose family sued helmet maker
Riddell and his coaches over brain injuries from a high school football
practice in 2008.
The jury in Las Animas County found Saturday
that Riddell was negligent in failing to warn people wearing its helmets
about concussion dangers. The ruling comes as the company still faces a
similar lawsuit in Los Angeles, plus a complaint by thousands of former
NFL players against the league and Riddell.
In Colorado, the jury
assessed 27 percent of the fault for Rhett Ridolfi's injuries, making
it responsible for paying $3.1 million of the damages. Ridolfi's lawyer
Frank Azar said Sunday that he'll ask a judge to find Riddell
responsible for paying all $11.5 million in damages.
Riddell said it plans to appeal the verdict but is pleased that jurors rejected allegations regarding helmet design defects.
``While
disappointed in the jury's decision not to fully exonerate Riddell, we
are pleased the jury determined that Riddell's helmet was not defective
in any way,'' the company said in a statement. It said it believes it
designs and manufactures the most protective football headgear for
athletes.
Riddell also contends the court erroneously excluded testimony from its warnings expert, though Azar disputed that.
``I
think this jury has said they're in very serious trouble,'' said Azar,
who said he is representing between 10 and 20 former NFL players with
complaints against Riddell.
Ridolfi's family sued Riddell and his
coaches after Ridolfi suffered a concussion in a Trinidad High School
football practice. He wasn't immediately taken to the hospital, and Azar
said Ridolfi now has severe brain damage, plus paralysis on his left
side. Three people reached confidential settlements before the verdict
Saturday, but two coaches were still defendants at the trial, Azar said.
In
October, a jury in Mississippi found Riddell wasn't responsible for an
injury to a high school football player who had suffered a stroke after a
practice.
