A Colorado jury has
awarded $11.5 million in a lawsuit brought against helmet maker Riddell
and several high school administrators and football coaches over brain
injuries suffered by a teenager 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
jury assessed 27 percent of the fault for Rhett Ridolfi's injuries,
making the company responsible for paying $3.1 million of the damages.
Riddell must pay $3.1 million in damages to the
family of Rhett Ridolfi, who recieved brain damage and paralysis while
at football practice
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 now has severe brain damage, as well as
paralysis on his left side.
Three people
reached confidential settlements before Saturday's verdict, but two
coaches were still defendants at the trial.
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.
A jury found Riddell was negligent in failing to warn people wearing its helmets about concussion dangers
Saturday's
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.
Riddell said it planned to appeal the verdict but was 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.
The company still faces a similar lawsuit in Los
Angeles along with a complaint filed by thousands of former NFL players
against the league and Riddell
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.
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.