Family sues Bellevue School District over football concussions
May 3, 2016, 1:40 PM
(Bellevue Wolverines Facebook)
(Bellevue Wolverines Facebook)
A former Bellevue High School football player who suffered two concussions during practice in 2011 is suing the Bellevue School District for negligence.
The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, alleges that the school district did not withhold Colter Linford from practice while he still exhibited post-concussion symptoms, did not have Linford seek required medical evaluation and clearance to return to play, and did not follow student safety rules.
Related: Bellevue High School principal leaves; denies football allegations are reason
As a result, Linford’s complaint states that he has sustained injuries, including difficulty focusing, short- and long-term memory deficits, change in mood, difficulty with emotions, disruption of sleep patterns and sensitivity to stimuli.
In 2015, a Purdue study showed that more than half of high school football players suffer brain trauma but keep playing.
In October 2015, Kenny Bui, a football player at Evergreen High School, died after a serious injury during a game. His family said he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
