Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Helmet-Maker Riddell Loses $11.5 Million Lawsuit
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: April 19, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
A Colorado jury awarded a young man who suffered severe brain injuries while playing high school football millions of dollars in a lawsuit brought against helmet-maker Riddell.
Rhett Ridolfi, now 22 years old, was awarded $11.5 million in damages after suing Riddell, football coaches and his former high school’s administration. The jury ruled that while the helmets themselves are not defective, Riddell failed to properly warn the players who wear its helmets of the risks associated with brain injuries in football. Riddell said it plans to appeal the ruling, but expressed relief that the jury recognized the safety of its product, according to the New York Times.
”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.
The jury determined that the company was 27 percent responsible for Ridolfi’s injuries, which left him partially paralyzed, and will be required to pay $3.1 million in the damages. A representative for Ridolfi said he would petition the court to require Riddell to pay the full $11.5 million in damages, particularly as Ridolfi’s coaches are considered government employees and therefore have immunity from paying damages, according to NBC Sports.
The blow might not be the first suffered by the company, which is facing a similar sports law dispute in Los Angeles and another lawsuit from several former NFL players.
- Industries: Entertainment & Media
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
Section 363 Sales in Bankruptcy: What Businesses, Lenders, and Buyers Need to Know
When a company enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy, many assume the process will culminate in a lengthy reorganization plan. However, distressed businesses are increasingly being sold through a different mechanism — a sale under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. A Section 363 sale allows a company, as a debtor-in-possession in bankruptcy, to sell […]
Author: John D. Giampolo
Zoning Laws Explained: What You Need to Know Before Buying Property
Before buying property, it is critical to determine whether local zoning laws may affect your plans. If you plan to redevelop the property, you will want to confirm that local zoning regulations permit development as intended. If acquiring property that is already developed, you must verify that the use is permitted in the underlying zoning […]
Author: Wendy Rubinstein Quiroga
Special Needs Trusts in New Jersey: Planning for Your Loved One’s Future
For parents of a child with a disability, estate planning raises concerns that go well beyond deciding who will inherit their assets. Parents may spend years making sure their child has the right care, services, and support. Eventually, they must also confront a difficult question: Who will take over when they can no longer do […]
Author: George McGowan
What Every Real Estate Investor Should Know Before Buying a Rental Property
Before buying a New Jersey rental property, an investor should verify realistic operating numbers, the property’s legal and regulatory status, lead-based paint and flood compliance, the existing leases and tenant protections, and the right ownership structure. A rental property is more than a piece of real estate; it is an operating business subject to legal, […]
Author: Donald M. Pepe
Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, an irrevocable trust can sometimes be modified even though its name suggests otherwise, and one of the primary tools for doing so is a process called decanting. Whether decanting is available depends on the specific terms of the trust and the discretion given to the trustee. Key takeaways: New Jersey has no […]
Author: Marc J. Comer
How Intellectual Property Valuation Will Impact Business Transactions
Intellectual property valuation determines the monetary value of a business’s IP assets, and it drives outcomes in licensing deals, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financing, and ownership disputes. The most valuable assets of a business are often the things that cannot be seen or touched: a proprietary process, a copyrighted work, brand recognition, or the […]
Author: Jay McDaniel
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.