Law & Courts News in Brief

Parents Sue School Districts After Football Player’s Death

By Bryan Toporek — November 11, 2014 1 min read
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The parents of a 16-year-old who died last fall from football-related brain trauma are suing the New York districts he played for and the medical responders who tended to him.

Damon Janes, a running back for the combined Brocton Central School/Westfield Academy and Central School football team, died after losing consciousness following a helmet-to-helmet hit.

According to the suit, Mr. Janes was allowed to continue playing even though he “exhibited signs of having experienced at least one concussion” several times throughout the game. It alleges both districts failed to comply with the Westfield school board’s concussion policy, failed to administer preseason baseline testing to help with the diagnosis of concussions, and employed coaches who failed to complete required concussion training, among other acts.

A version of this article appeared in the November 12, 2014 edition of Education Week as Parents Sue School Districts After Football Player’s Death

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