In an interesting turn of events a mother from Wisconsin has decided to sue Pop Warner for her 25 year old sons suicide.
(Reuters) – A Wisconsin mother filed a $5-million lawsuit against the Pop Warner youth football organization on Thursday, blaming it for her son’s suicide after years of playing the “combat sport.”
Debra Pyka filed the complaint against Pop Warner Little Scholars and its liability insurer in a federal Wisconsin court. Pyka said her son, Joseph Chernach, hanged himself at the age of 25, after developing brain diseases from playing in the league as a youth.
“Tackle football with helmets is a war game. It is not only a ‘contact’ sport, it is a ‘combat’ sport,” the complaint said. “Joseph Chernach’s suicide was the natural and probable consequence of the injuries he suffered playing Pop Warner football.”
Ms. Pyka is suing for $5 Million dollars.
It’s going to be interesting to see the precedent set in this case because if Ms. Pyka happens to win it could open up a Pandora’s box that could very well cripple youth organisations and in the long term effect the NCAA & NFL.