Dronett v. National Football League et al

Filing 1

COMPLAINT with Jury Demand filed by Christine Dronett. Consent form to proceed before U.S. Magistrate and pretrial instructions provided. ( Filing fee $ 350.00 receipt number 113E-3706123.) (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(eop) Please visit our website at http://www.gand.uscourts.gov to obtain Pretrial Instructions.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
ATLANTA DIVISION
CHRISTINE DRONETT, Individually, )
)
and as Surviving Spouse of SHANE
DRONETT, Deceased
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
Civil Action No.:
)
)
v.
)
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE; )
And NFL PROPERTIES, LLC, ) JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
)
)
Defendants.
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES
COMES NOW Plaintiff CHRISTINE DRONETT, Individually, and as
Surviving Spouse of SHANE DRONETT, Deceased, (hereinafter "Plaintiff'), and
hereby files this Complaint for Damages against Defendants National Football
League and NFL Properties, LLC (hereinafter "Defendants"), respectfully showing
the Court the following:
INTRODUCTION
1.

The National Football League ("NFL" or "the League") is America's

most successful and popular sports league. With 32 member teams, the League is a
multi-billion dollar business. The NFL is and has always been eager to avoid
negative publicity and protect the product on the field. As a result, the NFL

regulates just about everything as it pertains to their teams, including League
policies, player appearances, marketing, and safety, among other activities.
2.

As recognized by the League, professional football is a tough,

aggressive, and physically demanding sport. Injuries are common. As such, it is
vital to the safety of the players that the NFL act reasonably, to identify the risks of
serious injury associated with playing professional football, to keep the teams and
players informed of the risks that they identify, and to take reasonable steps to
protect players. Aware of this responsibility, the NFL, through its own initiative,
created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee ("MTBI" or "Committee") in
1994 to research, and topic presumably look to ameliorate, what was already a
tremendous problem in the League — concussions.
3.

Head injuries have been the topic noted in a wide variety of relatively

recent news articles and television segments, and was addressed by the League in
an announcement that it would penalize illegal blows to the head. But, as noted,
head injuries are not a new problem. For decades, the League's players have been
plagued by the devastating effects of concussions.
4.

Despite overwhelming medical evidence that on-field concussions

lead directly to brain injuries and frequent tragic repercussions for retired players,
the NFL not only failed to take reasonable actions to protect players from
2

suffering, but failed to inform players of the true risks associated with concussions.
Instead, the NFL chose to misrepresent and/or conceal medical evidence
recognized by its "hand-picked" committee of physicians who were researching
same. While athletes in other professional sports who had suffered concussions
were being effectively withheld from playing (shut down) for long periods of time
or full seasons, NFL protocol was to return players who had suffered concussions
to the very game in which the injury occurred.
5.

The NFL has purposefully attempted to obfuscate the issue and has

repeatedly refuted the connection between concussions and brain injury. Congress
has vehemently objected to the NFL's handling of the issue on several occasions.
In the 17 years since its formation, the MTBI has served as nothing short of a
roadblock to any genuine attempt to appropriately inform and protect teams and
NFL players regarding concussions and resultant brain injury. The Committee's
misrepresentation and concealment of relevant medical information over the years
has caused an increased risk of debilitating and/or life-threatening injury to players
who were purposefully not being apprised of the findings.
6.

The NFL has failed to satisfy its duty to take reasonable steps

necessary to protect players from devastating head injuries. Moreover, the NFL

3

has downplayed and misrepresented the issues and mislead players concerning the
risks associated with concussions.
THE PARTIES
7.

Plaintiff Christine Dronett is a citizen of the State of Georgia and at

all times material hereto, resided in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia.
8.

Plaintiff Christine Dronett is the widow of the Decedent, Shane

Dronett, who died on January 21, 2009 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Plaintiff
and the Decedent lived together as husband and wife at all times material hereto
and at the time of Shane's death.
9.

All Defendants, and each of them, are legally responsible for the

injuries and damages complained of herein.
10.

At all times herein mentioned, Defendants, and each of them, were the

agents, servants, and employees of each of the other, acting within the course and
scope of said agency and employment.
11.

Defendant NFL is a nonprofit, non-incorporated entity organized and

existing under the laws of the State of New York, with its principal place of
business at 280 Park Ave., 15th Fl., New York, NY 10017. The NFL is not, and
has not been, the employer of Decedent Shane Dronett, who was employed by

4

independent team clubs during his career in professional football. The NFL
regularly conducts business in Georgia.
12.

Defendant NFL Properties, LLC, as the successor-in-interest to

National Football League Properties, Inc. ("NFL Properties") is a limited liability
company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware with its principal place
of business in the State of New York. NFL Properties is engaged in, among other
activities, approving, licensing and promoting equipment by all the NFL teams.
NFL Properties regularly conducts business in Georgia.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
13.

This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1332(a), as there is diversity of citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds
$75,000, exclusive of interests and costs.
14.

This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendants as it does

business in Georgia, has a franchise which plays in Georgia, and derives
substantial revenue from its contacts with Georgia.
15.

Venue properly lies in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(a)(2)

and 1391(b)(2) as a substantial part of the events and/or omissions giving rise to
the claims emanated from activities within this jurisdiction and the Defendants
conduct substantial business in this jurisdiction.
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ALLEGATIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL COUNTS
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
16.

The NFL acts as a trade association for thirty-two (32) franchise

owners, and consists of two (2) structured conferences, the AFC and the NFC
comprised of thirty-two (32) teams.
17.

The NFL is a separate entity from each of its teams.

American

Needle, Inc. v. NFL, et al., 130 S. Ct. 2201 (U.S. 2010).
18.

Each team functions as a separate business entity, but operates under

shared revenue generated through broadcasting, merchandising and licensing.
19.

The NFL governs and promotes the game of American football, sets

and enforces rules and League policies, and regulates team ownership. It generates
revenue mostly through marketing sponsorships, licensing merchandise and by
selling national broadcasting rights to the games. The teams share a percentage of
the League's overall revenue.
20.

Owing in part to its immense financial power and status in American

football, the NFL has assumed enormous influence over the research and education
of football injuries to physicians, trainers, coaches, and amateur football players at
all levels of the game.
21.

The League's website www.nflhealthandsafety.com states that USA

Football, the sport's national governing body, "is the Official Youth Football
6

Development Partner of the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The
independent non-profit organization leads the development of youth, high school
and international amateur football. In addition, USA Football operates programs
and builds resources to address key health and safety issues in partnership with
leading medical organizations. The organization was endowed by the NFL and
NFLPA through the NFL Youth Football Fund in 2002. USA Football stands
among the leaders in youth sports concussion education, particularly for football."
THE NFL AND THE CBA
22.

Until March of 2011, all NF'L players were members of a union called

the National Football League Players Association ("NFLPA"). The NFLPA
negotiates the general minimum contract for all players in the League with the
National Football League Management Council ("NFLMC"). This contract is
called the Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA") and it is the central
document that governs the negotiation of individual player contracts for all of the
League's players. However, the NFL retired players have not been the subject of
or a party to the CBA.
23.

Decedent, Shane Dronett was a retiree and not a signatory to the CBA,

nor is he or his estate the subject of or a party to an agreement between the NFL
and the NFLPA. Plaintiff's claims are not preempted by federal labor law since
7

the CBA does not apply to the claims herein.
THE NATURE OF HEAD IN.WRIES
SUFFERED BY NFL PLAYERS
24.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons defines a

concussion as "a clinical syndrome characterized by an immediate and transient
alteration in brain function, including an alteration of mental status and level of
consciousness, resulting from mechanical force or trauma." The injury generally
occurs when the head either accelerates rapidly and then is stopped, or is spun
suddenly. The results frequently include confusion, blurred vision, memory loss,
nausea and, sometimes, unconsciousness.
25.

A hit to the head may result in smashing, jiggling and torquing of the

brain while causing strains and tears, snapping blood vessels, killing brain cells
(neurons) and shearing the delicate connections (axons) that link this incredibly
complex organ.
26.

Medical evidence has shown that symptoms of a concussion can

reappear hours or days after the injury, indicating that the injured party had not
healed from the injury.
27.

According to neurologists, once a person suffers a concussion, they

are as much as four times more likely to sustain a second concussion. Additionally,

8

after several concussions, a lesser impact may cause the injury, and the injured
player requires more time to recover.
28.

Clinical and neuropathological studies by some of the nation's

foremost experts demonstrate that multiple concussions sustained during an NFL
player's career may cause severe cognitive problems such as depression, paranoia,
memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression,
and early-onset dementia.
29.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy ("CTE") is a progressive

degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of
repetitive concussions. Conclusive studies have shown this condition to be
prevalent in retired professional football players who have a history of head injury.
30.

Head trauma, which includes multiple concussions, triggers

progressive degeneration of the brain tissue. These changes in the brain can begin
months, years, or even decades after the last concussion or end of active athletic
involvement. The brain degeneration is associated with memory loss, confusion,
impaired judgment, paranoia, impulse control problems, aggression, depression,
and eventually, progressive dementia.
31.

In 2002, Dr.

Bennet

Omalu, a forensic pathologist and

neuropathologist, found CTE in the brain of NFL Hall of Famer Mike Webster.
9

32.

By 2007, Dr. Omalu found a fourth case linking the death of a former

NFL player to CTE from his football career.
33.

Around the same time period, the University of North Carolina's

Center for the Study of Retired Athletes published survey-based papers in 2005
and 2007 that found a clear correlation between NFL football and depression,
dementia, and other cognitive impairment.
34.

In 1994, the NFL undertook the responsibility of studying concussion

research through funding the MTBI Committee.
35.

The NFL MTBI Committee published its findings in 2004 showing

"no evidence of worsening injury or chronic cumulative effects" from multiple
concussions. In a related study, the Committee found "many NFL players can be
safely allowed to return to play" on the day of a concussion if they are without
symptoms and cleared by a physician.
36.

Commissioner Roger Goodell in June of 2007 admitted publicly that

the NFL has been studying the effects of traumatic brain injury for "close to 14
years...".
37.

It was not until June of 2010 that the NFL publicly acknowledged that

concussions can lead to dementia, memory loss, CTE and related symptoms by
publishing warnings to every player and team.
10

38.

To date, neuroanatomists have performed autopsies on 13 former NFL

players who died after exhibiting signs of degenerative brain disease. Twelve of
these players were found to have suffered from CTE.
39.

Until very recently, CTE could only be diagnosed by autopsy.
NFL'S DUTY TO PLAYERS AND THE PUBLIC

40.

The NFL overtly undertook a duty to study concussions on behalf of

NFL players.
41.

The NF'L owed a duty to players including Decedent Shane Dronett in

the following respects:
(a)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to protect Shane Dronett on the
playing field;

(b)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to educate him and
other players in the NFL about CTE and/or concussion injury;

(c)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to educate trainers,
physicians, and coaches about CTE and/or concussion injury;

(d)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to have in place
strict return-to-play guidelines to prevent CTE and/or concussion
injury;

(e)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to promote a
"whistleblower" system where teammates would bring to the attention
of a trainer, physician, or coach that another player had sustained
concussion injury;
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(f)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to design rules and
penalties for players who use their head or upper body to hit or tackle;

(g)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to design rules to
eliminate the risk of concussion during games and/or practices;

(h)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to Shane Dronett to promote
research into and cure for CTE and the effects of concussion injury
over a period of time; and

(i)

It owed a duty of reasonable care to State governments, local sports
organizations, all American Rules Football leagues and players, and
the public at large to protect against the long-term effects of CTE
and/or concussion injury.

42.

The NFL knew as early as the 1920's of the potential harmful effects

on players who suffer concussions; however, until June of 2010, they concealed
these facts from coaches, trainers, players, and the public.
43.

Plaintiff did not know, nor did Shane Dronett know, nor have reason

to know, the long-term effects of concussions and relied on the Defendants to
provide reasonable warnings, rules, regulations and studies.

DEFENDANTS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE RISK OF CONCUSSIONS
44.

For decades, Defendants have known that multiple blows to the head

can lead to long-term brain injury, including memory loss, dementia, depression,
and CTE and its related symptoms.

12

45.

This action arises from Defendants' failure to warn and protect NFL

players, such as Decedent Shane Dronett, against long-term brain injury risks
associated with football-related concussions.
46.

While Defendants undertook to investigate, research, and promulgate

multiple safety rules, Defendants were negligent in failing to act reasonably and
exercise their duty to enact reasonable league-wide guidelines and mandatory rules
regulating post-concussion medical treatment and return-to-play standards for
players who had suffered a concussion and/or multiple concussions.
47.

Defendants affirmatively assumed a duty to use reasonable care in the

study of post-concussion syndrome, and to use reasonable care in the publication
of data from the MTBI Committee's work.
48.

Rather than exercising reasonable care in these duties, Defendants

immediately engaged in a long-running course of negligent conduct.
49.

By failing to exercise their duty to enact reasonable and prudent rules

to better protect players against the risks associated with repeated brain trauma,
Defendants' failure to exercise their independent duty has led to the brain injuries
of many former players, and the death of others, including that of Decedent Shane
Dronett.
50.

Defendants' ongoing undertaking to protect the health and safety of
13

the players is evidenced by the NFL's enactment of at least the following nonexhaustive list of rules pertaining to players' health and safety:
(a)

In 1956, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited the grabbing of any
player's facemask, other than the ball carrier;

(b)

In 1962, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited players from grabbing
any player's facemask;

(c)

In 1976, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited players from grabbing
the facemask of an opponent. The penalty for an incidental grasp of
the facemask was 5 yards. The penalty for twisting, turning, or
pulling the facemask was 15 yards. A player could be ejected from
the game if the foul is judged to be vicious and/or flagrant;

(d)

In 1977, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited players from slapping
the head of another player during play. This rule was referred to as
the "Deacon Jones Rule," named after the Rams' defensive end who
frequently used this technique;

(e)

In 1977, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited Offensive Lineman
from thrusting their hands into a defender's neck, face, or head;

(f)

In 1979, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited players from using
their helmets to butt, spear, or ram an opponent. Pursuant to this rule,
any player who used the crown or top of his helmet unnecessarily will
be called for unnecessary roughness;

(g)

In 1980, the NFL enacted rule changes that provided greater
restrictions on contact in the area of the head, neck, and face;

(h)

In 1980, the NFL enacted rule changes that prohibited players from
directly striking, swinging, or clubbing the head, neck, or face
14

("personal foul"). Beginning in 1980, a penalty could be called for
such contact whether or not the initial contact was made below the
neck area;
(i)

In 1982, the NFL enacted a rule change by which the penalty for
incidental grabbing of a facemask by a defensive team was changed
from 5 yards to an automatic first down plus a 5 yard penalty;

(j)

In 1983, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited players from using a
helmet as a weapon to strike or hit an opponent;

(k)

In 1988, the NFL enacted a rule that prohibited defensive players from
hitting quarterbacks below the waist while they are still in the pocket.
(The rule was unofficially called the "Andre Waters Rule" based upon
a hit that Waters placed on Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim
Everett in 1988); and

(1)

Following the 2004-2005 season, the NFL's Competition Committee
reviewed video of the entire season and concluded that the horsecollar tackle resulted in six serious injuries. On May 23, 2005, the
NFL owners voted 27-5 to ban such tackles. The ban states that a
horse-collar tackle is an open-field tackle in which a defender uses the
shoulder pads to immediately bring a ball carrier down.

51.

However, the Defendants failed to enact reasonable rules and

regulations for the prevention of traumatic brain injuries.
NFL FRAUDULENTLY CONCEALED
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF CONCUSSIONS
52.

Instead of taking measures to actually protect its players from
15

suffering brain injuries, the NFL created the MTBI Committee in 1994 ostensibly
to study the effects of concussions on NFL players. Upon its creation, the
Committee was highly publicized as the NFL's good faith effort to search for the
truth, learn the risks of sustaining multiple concussions, and report its findings to
the general public, players, and the NFLPA.
53.

The MTBI Committee was chaired by Dr. Elliot Pellman, the New

York Jets team trainer, a rheumatologist who is not certified as a brain injury
and/or concussion specialist.
54.

After 14 years of studies, and after numerous medical journal articles

written by the NFL's MTBI Committee, Defendants concluded that "[b]ecause a
significant percentage of players returned to play in the same game [after suffering
a mild traumatic brain injury] and the overwhelming majority of players with
concussions were kept out of football-related activities for less than 1 week, it can
be concluded that mild TBI's in professional football are not serious injuries." See
"Concussion in professional football: Summary of the research conducted by the
National Football League's Committee on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury."
Neurosurg Focus 21 (4):E12; 2006, RI. Pellman and D.C. Viano.

55.

According to Defendants' own "studies," the speedy return to play

after suffering a concussion demonstrates that such players were at no greater risk
16

of suffering long-term brain injury.
56.

The NFL-funded study is completely devoid of logic and science.

More importantly, it is contrary to their Health and Safety Rules as well as 75
years of published medical literature on concussions.
57.

A series of clinical and neuropathological studies performed by

independent scientists and physicians demonstrated that multiple NFL inducedconcussions cause cognitive problems such as depression, early on-set dementia
and CTE.
58.

In response to these studies, Defendants, to further a scheme of fraud

and deceit, had members of the NFL's MTBI Committee deny knowledge of a link
between concussion and cognitive decline.
59.

When the NFL's MTBI Committee anticipated studies that would

show causal links between concussion and cognitive degeneration, the Committee
promptly published articles producing contrary findings, as part of Defendants'
scheme to deceive Congress, the players and the public at large.
60.

Dr. Bennet Omalu examined the brain tissue of deceased NFL players

including Mike Webster, Terry Long, Andrew Waters and Justin Strzelczyk. Dr.
Omalu in an article in Neurosurgery concluded that CTE triggered by multiple
NFL concussions, was a partial cause of their death.
17

61.

In response to Dr. Omalu's article, Defendants' MTBI Committee,

(Drs. Ira Casson, Eliot Pellman and David Viano) wrote a letter to the editor of
Neurosurgery asking that Dr. Omalu's article be retracted.

62.

A clinical study performed by Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz found that

retired players who sustained three or more concussions in the NFL had a fivefold prevalence of mild cognitive impairment. The NFL's MTBI Committee, (Dr.
Mark Lowell), promptly attacked the article by refusing to accept a survey of 2,400
former NFL players.
63.

Because of Congressional scrutiny and media pressure, the NFL

scheduled a league-wide Concussion Summit for June 2007. Defendants, in
furtherance of their scheme of deceit issued a pamphlet to players in August 2007,
which stated: "there is no magic number for how many concussions is too many."
64.

When Boston University's Dr. Ann McKee found CTE present in the

brains of two more deceased NFL players, a member of the Committee
characterized each study as an "isolated incident" from which no conclusion could
be drawn.
65.

The NFL MTBI Committee has been on direct notice of multiple NFL

head injuries contributing to cognitive decline in later life, yet it has never
amended the 2007 NFL's MTBI Committee statement: "Current research with
18

professional athletes has not shown that having more than one or two concussions
leads to permanent problems... It is important to understand that there is no magic
number for how many concussions is too many."
66.

Defendants have yet to amend these inaccurate and misleading

statements.
DEFENDANTS ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR DUTY TO
PROTECT AGAINST THE LONG-TERM RISK OF CONCUSSIONS
67.

On August 14, 2007, Defendants acknowledged their duty to players

by enacting rules to protect them against the risk associated with repeated brain
trauma.
68.

The NFL's 2007 concussion guidelines, many of which stemmed from

an NFL conference in June of 2007 involving team trainers and doctors, were sent
to all current players and other team personnel.
69.

The NFL's 2007 guidelines on concussion management include a

whistle-blower provision for individuals to report concussions with the League so
that a player with a head injury is not forced to practice or play against medical
advice.
70.

The NFL's 2007 concussion guidelines also include an informational

pamphlet provided to all current NFL players to aid in identifying symptoms of a
concussion. This information was later withdrawn by outside counsel of the NFL
19

in a separate letter to its disability plan, as well as the NFL's August 14, 2007 press
release denying that "more than one or two concussion leads to permanent
problems."
71.

In a statement issued by the NFL on August 14, 2007, Roger Goodell,

the Commissioner of the NFL, introduced the NFL's 2007 concussion guidelines
by saying, "We want to make sure all NFL players, coaches and staff members are
fully informed and take advantage for the most up-to-date information and
resources as we continue to study the long-term impact of concussions."
72.

The NFL's Commissioner also stated, " [b]ecause of the unique and

complex nature of the brain, our goal is to continue to have concussions managed
conservatively by outstanding medical personnel in a way that clearly emphasized
player safety over competitive concerns."
73.

The NFL's 2007 concussion guidelines indicate when a player with a

concussion can return to a game or practice.
74.

The NFL's 2007 concussion guidelines specifically mandate that a

player should have normal neurological test results and no concussion symptoms
before returning to play.
75.

Defendants acknowledged that said guidelines were inadequate and

insufficient. As a result, the NFL enacted more strict regulations to handle
20

concussions starting in the 2009 season. Specifically, the NFL announced new
rules requiring players who exhibit any significant signs of concussion to be
removed from a game or practice and be barred from returning the same day.
76.

Nevertheless, it was not until June of 2010 that the NFL warned any

player of the long-term risks associated with multiple concussions, including
dementia, memory loss, and CTE and its related symptoms.
77.

As of today, Defendants have not warned retired players of the long-

term health effects of concussions.
DEFENDANTS' CONDUCT
WAS DELIBERATE, WILFULL AND WANTON
78.

The aforementioned acts and omissions of Defendants demonstrate

that they acted deliberately, willfully, and wantonly with indifference to the rights
and duties owed and consequences to Plaintiff and Plaintiff's Decedent, Shane
Dronett.
79.

Defendants knew that a substantial risk of physical and mental harm

to the NFL players existed in connection with repeated concussive blows to the
head, to wit: the danger of irreversible brain-damage and/or dementia. Defendants
willfully and deliberately disregarded the safety of others in continually
undertaking to establish and promulgate safety rules for the NFL that failed to
reasonably address or disclose substantial risk of head injury.
21

SHANE DRONETT'S INJURIES AND WRONGFUL DEATH
80.

Decedent Shane Dronett was born on January 12, 1971 in Orange,

81.

Decedent Shane Dronett played eleven (11) NFL seasons for the

Texas.

following teams: the Denver Broncos during the 1992-1995 seasons; the Detroit
Lions during the 1996 season; and the Atlanta Falcons during the 1996-2002
seasons.
82.

Throughout his career as a professional football player, Decedent

Shane Dronett suffered multiple concussive blows and hits to the head.
83.

In 2006, following the Decedent's NFL career, Shane Dronett began

experiencing cognitive problems such as inattentiveness, depression, paranoia,
memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, rage, aggression, delusions and
delusional outbursts, and impulse control problems.
84.

In the following years, the Decedent's behavior and cognitive

problems/ "episodes" continued to worsen and become more severe.
85.

On January 21, 2009, Shane Dronett reached a critical point, and after

threatening to kill his family, turned the gun on himself and died of a self-inflicted
gunshot wound.

22

86.

Following his death, Decedent Shane Dronett's brain was tested at the

Boston University School of Medicine's Center for the Study of Traumatic
Encephalopathy ("Center").
87.

After studying and testing Shane Dronett's brain, the Center

diagnosed Shane Dronett as suffering from the progressive degenerative disease
CTE.
88.

Plaintiff, nor Plaintiff s Decedent know or have reason to know, the

long-term effects of concussions and relied on the Defendants to provide
reasonable warnings, rules, regulations and studies.
89.

It is reasonable to conclude that Decedent Shane Dronett would not

have exposed himself to the risks of head injuries associated with playing
professional football in the same style of play had Defendants properly disclosed
the risks of serious injury and/or death associated with suffering multiple
concussive blows and hits to the head.
90.

Decedent Shane Dronett was not warned by Defendants of the risk of

long-term injury due to football-related concussions or that the League-managed
equipment did not protect him from such injury.
91.

Despite overwhelming medical evidence that on-field concussions

lead directly to brain injuries and frequent tragic repercussions for retired players,
23

the Defendants not only failed to take effective action in an attempt to protect
Shane Dronett from suffering, but failed to inform Plaintiff, or Plaintiff s Decedent
Shane Dronett of the true risks associated with concussions. Instead, the NFL
chose to misrepresent and/or conceal medical evidence on the issue.
92.

Plaintiff Christine Dronett was not made aware of the risks until June

of 2010 when the NFL finally changed their rules.
93.

As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligence, fraud,

deceit, concealment, misrepresentation and otherwise culpable acts and/or
omissions described herein, Plaintiff s Decedent Shane Dronett suffered the
symptoms of repetitive concussions and multiple blows to the head, resulting in the
taking of his own life and caused Plaintiff and Plaintiff s Decedent to sustain
injuries and damages including, but not limited to, those outlined below.
94.

As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligence, fraud,

deceit, concealment, misrepresentation and otherwise culpable acts and/or
omissions described herein, Decedent Shane Dronett committed suicide, and his
wife, Plaintiff Christine Dronett, has lost his love, companionship, and financial
support, incurred medical, funeral and burial expenses, and will continue to suffer
in the future.
95.

As a further direct and proximate result of the Defendants'
24

negligence, fraud, deceit, concealment, misrepresentation and otherwise culpable
acts and/or omissions described herein, Plaintiff has suffered emotional distress by
unexpectedly and shockingly finding her husband after he had shot and killed
himself.
96.

Plaintiff's injuries and damages alleged herein directly result from the

Defendants' negligent, reckless, and/or intentional and otherwise culpable acts,
omissions, and/or misrepresentations.

COUNT I
NEGLIGENCE
97.

Plaintiff incorporates by reference all facts set forth in the preceding

paragraphs and further alleges on information and belief as follows.
98.

Defendants, as purveyors of safety rules for the League, owed Shane

Dronett a duty to use reasonable care in researching, studying and/or examining the
dangers and risks of head injuries and/or concussions to NFL players; to inform
and warn him of such risks and to effectuate reasonable League policies; and/or
take other reasonable action to minimize the risks of head injuries.
99.

At all times relevant hereto, Defendants negligently performed such

duties by failing to adequately study, warn and/or implement reasonable rules and
regulations to minimize traumatic brain injuries to its players, including Decedent
Shane Dronett.
25

100. Defendants knew or should have known that its policies, rules and
regulations in place were not reasonably sufficient to minimize traumatic brain
injuries and that Decedent Shane Dronett's injuries were foreseeable.
101. Defendants affirmatively and voluntarily established the MTBI
Committee to examine the dangers and consequences of head injuries to NFL
players, to report on its findings, to provide information and guidance from its
research and studies concerning concussions to teams and players, and to make
recommendations to lessen the risks of concussions. Defendants are responsible for
the staffing and conduct of the MTBI Committee.
102. Defendants failed to use reasonable care in the manner in which it
created the MTBI Committee and failed to reasonably appoint qualified physician
to head the Committee.
103. Defendants failed to use reasonable care in researching, studying
and/or examining the risks of head injuries and/or concussions in professional
football. Defendants downplayed and in many cases denied both the severity of
head injuries and the clear link between concussions and brain damage, thereby
breaching its duty to its players, including Decedent Shane Dronett.
104. Defendants failed to inform, warn and/or advise its players, and/or
misinformed them of the risks and complications inherent in sustaining
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concussions, thereby breaching its duty to its players, including Decedent Shane
Dronett.
105. Defendants were further negligent in the following respects:
In failing to use reasonable care in overseeing, controlling and/or
regulating policies and procedures of the League so as to minimize the
risk of head injuries and/or concussions;
In failing to use reasonable care in the research and/or investigation of
the concussion issue;
In failing to appoint a qualified physician or panel of physicians to
head Defendants' MTBI committee;
In placing a physician in charge of the committee whose primary
motive was to appease the NFL rather than to report accurately;
In disregarding independent scientific studies which showed the risks
of head injuries and/or concussions to NFL players' health;
In failing to acknowledge, either publicly or to their players, the clear
link between concussions and brain injuries being suffered by their
players;
In failing to acknowledge, either publicly or to their players, the
linkage between playing football and long-term brain injuries;
In failing to make and/or timely make necessary league policy
changes as it pertains to intentional hits to the head, hits to the head of
a defenseless player, helmet to helmet hits, and concussions in
general;
In publishing misleading and erroneous findings regarding hits to the
head and NFL head injuries;

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•

•

In failing to issue a timely warning, through a concussion pamphlet or
other means, to the players concerning the causal link between
concussions and later life cognitive decline;
In issuing misinformation and purposefully attempting to mislead
their players through the concussion pamphlet which they issued in
August 2007;
In collecting and reporting upon data that was "infected" and/or not
reliable;
In causing, by and through their negligent conduct and omissions, an
increased risk of harm to their players;
In breaching their duty to ensure that the equipment it licensed and
approved was of the highest possible quality and sufficient to protect
the NFL players, including Decedent Shane Dronett, from the risk of
concussive brain injuries;
In failing to provide competent information to its teams, players,
coaches, trainers and medical personnel with respect to the
significance of head injuries and/or concussions, their symptoms and
necessary and/or proper treatment of same; and
In creating a "culture" within the NFL in which concussions and their
devastating effects would run rampant.

106. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff's Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered serious injury, including
but not limited: severe cognitive problems, brain damage, and death.
107. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered from CTE and its related
symptoms.
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108. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett, committed suicide.
109. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff suffered and will continue to suffer substantial injuries, and
economic and non-economic damages, including the love and companionship of
her husband.
110. Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants' for
damages, as well as all costs of this action, and a trial by jury of all issues to be
tried.
COUNT II
FRAUD
111. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all facts set forth in the preceding
paragraphs and further alleges on information and belief as follows.
112. Defendants had a duty to disclose the risks associated with brain
injuries and concussions to Decedent Shane Dronett, as well as to coaches, trainers,
players, and the public.
113. The NFL materially misrepresented the risks faced by Decedent
Shane Dronett related to head injuries. Defendants' MTBI Committee, through
misleading public statements, published articles and the concussion pamphlet

29

issued to the players, downplayed known long-term risks of concussions to NFL
players.
114. Material misrepresentations were made by members of Defendants'
Committee on multiple occasions, including but not limited to testimony given at
congressional hearings and the "informational" pamphlet which they issued to
players.
115. The material misrepresentations include the NFL's remarks that
Decedent Shane Dronett and other players were not at an increased risk of head
injury if they returned too soon to an NFL game or training session after suffering
a head injury.
116. Defendants' material misrepresentations also included the NFL's
criticism of legitimate scientific studies which illustrated the dangers and risks of
head injuries and the long term effects of concussions.
117. Defendants' material misrepresentations, through its MTBI
Committee, denied a link between concussion and CTE.
118. Defendants had actual knowledge of the misleading nature of these
statements when they were made.
119. Defendants had actual knowledge that Plaintiff and Plaintiff s
Decedent Shane Dronett and others would rely on these misrepresentations.
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120. Defendants should have known that Plaintiff and Plaintiff s Decedent
Shane Dronett and others would rely on these misrepresentations.
121. Decedent Shane Dronett relied on these misrepresentations when
playing in the NFL. Had Decedent Shane Dronett known the risks to his health, he
would not have agreed to jeopardize his health.
122. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' fraudulent conduct,
Decedent Shane Dronett has suffered serious injury, including but not limited:
severe cognitive problems, brain damage, and death.
123. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' fraudulent
conduct, Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered from CTE and its related
symptoms.
124. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants fraudulent conduct,
Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett, committed suicide.
125. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' fraudulent
conduct, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer substantial injuries, and
economic and non-economic damages, including the love and companionship of
her husband.
126. As a direct and proximate cause of Defendants' fraudulent conduct,
Plaintiff was unaware of the link between concussion CTE and its related
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symptoms.
127. Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants for
damages, as well as all costs of this action, and a trial by jury of all issues to be
tried.
COUNT III
FRAUDULENT CONCEALMENT
128. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all facts set forth in the preceding
paragraphs and further alleges on information and belief as follows.
129. Defendants' MTBI Committee knowingly and fraudulently concealed
the risks of head injuries to Decedent Shane Dronett, and the risk to him if he
returned to the playing field before making a proper recovery from his head
injuries.
130. Defendants' MTBI Committee, published articles and the concussion
pamphlet issued to players, therein affirmatively concealing and downplaying
known long-term risks of concussions to NFL players.
131. The concussion pamphlet created player reliance. The NFL stated that
"[w]e want to make sure all N.F.L. players ... are fully informed and take
advantage of the most up to date information and resources as we continue to study
the long-term impact on concussions."

32

132. Further concealment of material information occurred in January
2010. Dr. Casson provided oral and written testimony at the January 2010
congressional hearings. He continued to deny the validity of other studies.
133. Defendants failed to acknowledge, either publicly or to its players, the
clear link between concussions and brain injuries being suffered by NFL players.
134. Defendants failed to acknowledge, either publicly or to its players, the
linkage between playing football and long-term brain injuries.
135. Defendants willfully concealed this information from Decedent Shane
Dronett in order to prevent negative publicity and increased scrutiny of their
medical practices.
136. Defendants knew that Plaintiff and Plaintiff s Decedent Shane Dronett
and other NFL players would rely on the inaccurate information provided by the
NFL.
137. Decedent Shane Dronett relied on this inaccurate information during
his NFL career.
138. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' willful
concealment, Plaintiff's Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered serious injury,
including but not limited: severe cognitive problems, brain damage, and death.

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139. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' willful
concealment, Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered from CTE and its
related symptoms.
140. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' willful
concealment, Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett, committed suicide.
141. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' willful concealment,
Plaintiff was unaware of the causal link between concussion, CTE and its related
symptoms to include suicide.
142. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' willful
concealment, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer substantial injuries,
and economic and non-economic damages, including the love and companionship
of her husband.
143. Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants for
damages, as well as all costs of this action, and a trial by jury of all issues to be
tried.

COUNT IV
NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION
144. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all facts set forth in the preceding
paragraphs and further alleges on information and belief as follows.

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145.

The NFL misrepresented the dangers that NFL players faced in

returning to play too quickly after sustaining a head injury. Defendants' MTBI
Committee, through public statements which it knew or should have known were
misleading, published articles and issued the concussion pamphlet to its players,
and downplayed the long-term risks of concussions to NFL players.
146. Material misrepresentations were made by members of the NFL's
committee on multiple occasions, including but not limited to testimony at
congressional hearings and the "informational" pamphlet issued to players.
147. The misrepresentations included the NFL's remarks that Decedent
Shane Dronett and other NFL players were not at an increased risk of head injury if
they returned too soon to play or training session after suffering a head injury.
148. Defendants' material misrepresentations also include the NFL's
criticism of legitimate scientific studies that illustrated the dangers and risks of
head injuries.
149. Defendants made these misrepresentations and actively concealed
adverse information at a time when they knew, or should have known, because of
their superior position of knowledge, that Decedent Shane Dronett faced health
problems if he were to return to a game too soon after suffering brain trauma.

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150. Defendants knew or should have known the misleading nature of
these statements when they were made.
151. Defendants made misrepresentations and actively concealed
information with the intention that Decedent Shane Dronett and other NFL players
would rely on the misrepresentations or omissions in selecting their course of
action.
152. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff's Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered serious injury, including
but not limited: severe cognitive problems, brain damage, and death.
153. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff's Decedent, Shane Dronett, suffered from CTE and its related
symptoms.
154. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff's Decedent, Shane Dronett, committed suicide.
155. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' negligent acts and
omissions, Plaintiff was unaware of the causal connection between concussion,
CTE and its related symptoms including suicide.
156. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendants' willful
concealment, Plaintiff has suffered and will continue to suffer substantial injuries,
36

and economic and non-economic damages, including the love and companionship
of her husband.
157. Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants for
damages, as well as all costs of this action, and a trial by jury of all issues to be
tried.
COUNT V
WRONGFUL DEATH
158. Plaintiff incorporates by reference all facts set forth in the preceding
paragraphs and further alleges on information and belief as follows.
159. At all times germane to this Complaint, Plaintiff, nor Plaintiff's
Decedent, Shane Dronett, did not know, nor have reason to know, the long-term
effects of concussions and relied on the Defendants to provide reasonable
warnings, rules, regulations and studies.
160. At all times germane to this Complaint, the Defendants failed to take
effective action in an attempt to protect players from suffering, but failed to inform
players of the true risks associated with concussions. Instead, the NFL chose to
misrepresent and/or conceal medical evidence on the issue through its "handpicked" committee of physicians who were researching same.
161. Defendants conduct as previously stated herein, demonstrated a
conscious indifference to the consequences to Decedent Shane Dronett's life
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causing the wrongful death of Shane Dronett.
162. Defendants are liable to the Plaintiff for the full value of Shane
Dronett's life without deduction for any necessary or personal expenses of Shane
Dronett had he lived.
163. As a proximate result of the misrepresentation and/or omissions by the
League, Plaintiff did not know or could not have reasonably known the causal
connection between concussion, CTE and its related symptoms to include suicide.
164. The full value of Shane Dronett's life includes compensation for (1)
those items having a monetary value, such as lost potential lifetime earnings,
income, and services; and (2) lost tangible items, such as a person's society,
advice, example and counsel, and generally including the entire intangible value of
the loss of the Decedent's life.
165. The full value of Shane Dronett's life includes the economic losses
associated with the Decedent's death, as well as any non-economic, intangible
losses that may be relevant in determining the full value of Shane Dronett's life.
166. Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants for the
full value of Plaintiff s Decedent's life, and any and all other damages allowed by
law.

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TOLLING OF THE LIMITATIONS PERIOD
167. Defendants, through its affirmative misrepresentations and omissions,
actively concealed from the Plaintiff and the Plaintiff s Decedent, Shane Dronett,
the true and significant risks of serious injury and/or death associated with
suffering multiple concussive blows and hits to the head.
168. As a result of Defendants' actions, the Plaintiff and the Plaintiff's
Decedent, Shane Dronett, were unaware, and could not have reasonably known or
have learned through reasonable diligence, that Shane Dronett had been exposed to
the risks identified in this Complaint, and that those risks were the result of
Defendants' acts, omissions, and misrepresentations.
169. As a result of Defendants' fraudulent misrepresentations and/or
concealments, Plaintiff did not know and could not have reasonably known the
causal connection between Plaintiff s Decedent's concussions, CTE and related
symptoms to include suicide.
170. Additionally, Defendants' fraudulently misrepresented and/or
concealed the causal relationship between brain trauma suffered during practice
and play by players in the NFL and long term injury and CTE and related
symptoms to include suicide.

39

171. Accordingly, no limitations period ought to accrue until such time as
the Plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of some causal connection
between the Decedent Shane Dronett's cognitive and neurological problems, and
the harm suffered as a result.
172. Additionally, the accrual and running of any applicable statute of
limitations has been tolled by reason of Defendants' fraudulent concealment.
173. Defendants are equitably stopped from asserting any limitations
defense by virtue of its fraudulent concealment and other misconduct as described
herein.
174. As a direct and proximate result of the actions of the Defendants as
described herein, the applicable statute of limitations period is tolled under the
principles of equitable tolling, and Defendants are estopped from asserting the
statute of limitations as a defense to any of Plaintiff s claims.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for relief and judgment as follows:
a.

That Plaintiff be granted a jury trial as to all issues so triable;

b.

That Plaintiff recover damages against the Defendants jointly and
severally for the full value of the life of Decedent Shane Dronett;

40

c.

That Plaintiff recover damages against the Defendants jointly and
severally in amounts sufficient to compensate for the pain and
suffering of Shane Dronett, medical and health related expenses
incurred, and funeral and burial costs;

d.

That Plaintiff recover for her emotional distress;

e.

That Plaintiff recover all costs of this action, including reasonable
attorneys' fees; and

f.

Granting any and all such other and further relief as the Court deems
necessary, just, and proper.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Plaintiff hereby requests a trial by jury of all issues triable by jury.
DATED: January 9, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Michael L. McGlamry
Michael L. McGlamry
Georgia Bar No. 492515
N. Kirkland Pope
Georgia Bar No. 584255
Jay F. Hirsch
Georgia Bar No. 357185
M. Gino Brogdon
Georgia Bar No. 084252
George W. Walker
Georgia Bar No. 548316
POPE, McGLAMRY, KILPATRICK,
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MORRISON & NORWOOD, P.C.
3455 Peachtree Road, N.E., Suite 925
P.O. Box 191625 (31119-1625)
Atlanta, GA 30326-3256
[phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
Bruce A. Hagen
Georgia Bar No. 316678
Bruce A. Hagen, P.C.
119 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030
[phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Attorneys for Plaintiff

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