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
10 Common Issues in Franchise Disputes
The most common franchise disputes involve breach of contract, franchise termination and non-renewal, intellectual property rights, territorial encroachment, royalty and fee payments, franchisor support obligations, and violations of state franchise laws such as the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act. Franchisors and franchisees can often resolve these conflicts by providing written notice detailing the dispute and […]
Author: Paul Grossman
Reputational Risk and Legal Exposure: Why New Jersey Businesses Must Manage Them Together
New Jersey businesses must manage legal and reputational risk together because modern disputes play out on two fronts at once: the legal proceeding itself and the court of public opinion, where customers, employees, investors, and business partners often reach conclusions long before a judge or jury has had the opportunity to evaluate the facts. Success […]
Author: Sean M. Pena
Eviction Is Not Always the End: Understanding Post-Possession Rent Claims in New Jersey and New York
No. An eviction does not automatically end a tenant’s obligation to pay rent. Post-eviction rent claims are common because recovering possession resolves who has the right to occupy the premises, but it does not extinguish the tenant’s contractual obligations under the lease. Whether unpaid or future rent remains owed depends on three factors: the lease’s […]
Author: Donald M. Pepe
Company Dissolved? Legal and Financial Consequences to Expect
A company is dissolved; legally, it ceases to exist. Accordingly, dissolution results in significant legal and financial consequences. It is a process that must be properly managed to avoid continuing liability. The Corporate Dissolution Process Corporate dissolution is the legal process of formally closing a corporation, paying its debts and distributing the remaining assets. Most […]
Author: Jay McDaniel
The Legal Implications of Signing a Triple Net Lease
A triple net lease is a commercial lease in which the tenant pays the property’s real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs, known as the three nets, in addition to base rent. They are most often used in freestanding retail and office buildings and in large single-tenant industrial properties, with terms that typically run 10 […]
Author: Donald M. Pepe
Business Law FAQs: What Companies Need to Know
Running a business in New Jersey and New York means operating within one of the most legally complex environments in the country. From the moment you form your company to the day you sell it, and every contract, hire, dispute, and transaction in between, business law is present in decisions that look, on the surface, […]
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
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.