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Mississippi Sports Law Review’s 2012 Fall Symposium

What: The Mississippi Sports Law Review’s 2nd Annual Fall Symposium: The Impact of Concussion Lawsuits on the Future of Football

When: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Room 1078 of the University of Mississippi School of Law (Directions)

Panelists

  • Dean André Douglas Pond Cummings – Indiana Tech Law School
  • Dr. Andrew Gregory – Vanderbilt University
  • Dean Jeffrey A. Standen – Willamette University College of Law
  • Philip Thomas, Esq. – Philip Thomas Law Firm
  • Todd Wade – Retired NFL Offensive Tackle
Description

Once thought to be a badge of honor that doctors could quickly “cure” with a sniff of smelling salt, concussions have now become the subject of litigation that could threaten the future of football and other contact sports. Recent medical studies consistently show serious long-term effects for athletes who have had multiple concussions, including serious brain trauma and reduction in life expectancy. Where re-entering the game after a concussion, or even the week after a concussion, used to be common practice, there is an increasing burden on team physicians and the athletes themselves to consider the implications of going back onto the field. In light of this research, the four major American sports leagues have implemented concussion policies and procedures, but many question if these policies alone are sufficient to protect the athletes from permanent injuries.

The pending litigation against the National Football League by over 3,500 of its former players will be the first case to address the question of concussions on a larger scale.  At its heart are tort law questions of duty, causation, and assumption of risk by athletes, trainers, and administrators in responding to these injuries. How should courts allocate liability in such cases?

Further, this is a problem that transcends professional football, extending both to high school athletes and to female athletes. In fact, women’s soccer is the sport with the second highest amount concussions after football, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that nearly two million teenage athletes suffer brain injuries every year.

Cost: Free.  Registration is not required, but you may register here.  Two hours of CLE credits are being offered for Mississippi Bar Members.

Mississippi 2012 Symposium Flyer

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.