Chesco Family Files Lawsuit Over Teen Girl's Head Injury at Soccer Practice
By Brad Segall
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Chester County family has filed a federal lawsuit in Philadelphia, alleging their daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury two years ago, during soccer practice at her high school.
The lawsuit claims the girl, an incoming freshman at Downingtown High School East, collided with another player during a preseason soccer scrimmage, injuring her head.
The lawsuit says coach Craig Reed put her back in the game with no medical evaluation, according to family attorney Aaron Freiwald.
"Pennsylvania law requires that when there's evidence that a student may have suffered a concussion, they have to come out of the game," Freiwald tells KYW Newsradio. "They have to be evaluated and, if necessary, they have to receive medical treatment. None of that happened."
Now, two years later, according to the lawsuit, she still suffers from headaches, fatigue, and other symptoms that have affected her academics and may have cost her a college athletic scholarship.
The suit names Reed, the school district, the superintendent, and others. The suit says that on the bus ride home after the collision, the girl began to get headaches and then, the next day, was dizzy and had vision problems.
The district says it does not comment on pending litigation.
