Russellville High School football star Derek Owens is one of four plaintiffs to file a class action lawsuit against the NCAA charging negligence. The college athletic organization, says the lawsuit, has been negligent in its failure to raise awareness about brain injury. Owens played at the University of Central Arkansas until he was injured during a game against the University of Tulsa.

He - and the team officials -- did not recognize his symptoms of brain and head injury until his grades, which had previously been excellent, began to drop. He lost his academic scholarship at the university as a result. Owens and three others are seeking compensatory damages and injunctive relief in their lawsuit, with a goal of requiring the NCAA to establish a program to monitoring the health and medical condition of players.

The suit seeks changes in tackling methods, implementation of revised "return to play" guidelines for injured students, changed standards for evaluating students for head injuries, and changes in how students who have suffered head and brain injuries are evaluated for scholarships and eligibility. The legal action claims that NCAA does not adhere to its own constitutional standard that requires each institution-member to protect the health and safety of each student athlete.

Source: Courrier News, "Class action lawsuit states NCAA negligent in response to concussion prevention", by Adam Sweeney  December 12, 2011.