Thomas Heiden

The right of any petitioner to present her grievance to an independent court has been a hallmark of our democratic system. The right is under attack in legislatures and courtrooms across our country. Our system for fair and peaceful dispute resolution is the best devised by humankind. That system should be nurtured and preserved. Our courthouse doors should remain open.

There have been health, safety, and moral concerns about injury in sports for decades. Those concerns are now focused on head injuries associated with contact sports. The legal risks and exposures are now so elevated they may threaten the very existence of some sports.

The lead football concussion case was a class-action filed on behalf of all current and former high school football players. The high schools defended and won that case in state court in Chicago. Here is the story of that victory, and its aftermath.