To what extent are governing bodies of contact sports and clubs
liable to former players for brain injury? The United States has
seen several cases on this issue, including class actions involving
USD 1 billion settlements. Will this type of litigation make its
way to Australia?
More than a decade ago, pathologist Dr Bennett Omalu
performed an autopsy on American National Football League (NFL)
player, Mike Webster. The autopsy led to the discovery of Chronic
Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in
people with a history of repetitive brain trauma. The
repeated brain trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the
brain tissue. Common symptoms include memory loss, confusion,
impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression,
depression, suicidality, Parkinsonism, and eventually progressive
dementia. These symptoms often begin years, or even decades
after the last brain trauma. Presently, CTE can only be
