Our friends at the Villanova Law School's Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal have organized what will surely be a fascinating symposium on the "concussion conundrum." They have four panels of former professional athletes, doctors, lawyers, and journalists all exploring the numerous issues implicated by concussions in professional sports and the litigation involving the NFL. Click here for more details on and to register for the symposium, which offers 2 CLE credits. Stay tuned for our series on the topic as well. The scheduled panels and panelists are:
Panel 1: Framing the Issue
The Symposium will begin with a conversation between Andrew Brandt and former athletes, including some that have taken strong and public positions about concussions in sports. Brandt and the players will discuss concussion awareness, prevention and treatment from their playing days as well as their view of the present environment.
- Brian Westbrook, former Philadelphia Eagles player
- Keith Primeau, former Philadelphia Flyers player
- Jim Nelson, former Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens player
- Taylor Twellman, former Major League Soccer player, current ESPN analyst and concussions commentator
Panel 2: Building the Case— A Legal and Medical Background of Concussions
This panel will explore liability issues of amateur and professional sports and bring a medical perspective to diagnosis and treatment of concussions. It will also feature a perspective of a Villanova Law Student who has written about and experienced the effects of concussions in her and her family's life.
- Marc Edelman, Associate Professor of Law, Barry University
- Dr. Michael Marino, MD, Attending Physician at Drucker Brain Injury Center
- Cailyn Reilly, current student at Villanova University School of Law
Panel 3: Concussion Injury Litigation v. NFL: Looking at Both Sides
This panel will explore the key arguments of the case against the NFL featuring one of the lawyers representing the players, Sol Weiss, a class action defense lawyer and the founder of the definitive Internet site on concussion litigation. It will be a balanced and in-depth look at the major issues of this key case in sports right now.
- J. Gordon Cooney, Jr. Partner at Morgan Lewis, expert on the defense of class actions suits
- Sol Weiss, Shareholder at Anapol Schwartz
- Paul D. Anderson, Practicing attorney
Panel 4: What's Next?: Parents, Media, Administrators, and Scholars Look Ahead
This panel will feature media personalities such as Roger Cossack and Ashley Fox of ESPN who, along with Brandt, will look at the state of the sport of football in light of concussions, whether parents should let their kids play, and where the NFL will be in 20 years.
- Roger Cossack, Legal Analyst, ESPN / CNN
- Ashley Fox, NFL Columnist, ESPN
- Peter Keating, Senior Writer, ESPN Magazine
- Taylor Twellman, ESPN Soccer Analyst
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