Faegre Drinker Trial Team Secures Complete Defense Verdict for NCAA

On February 15, 2023, a team of product liability and mass torts trial attorneys, including Andrea Roberts Pierson and Patrick Reilly, teamed with co-counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe to achieve a complete defense verdict for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in a trial involving college football concussion claims.

The widow of former Grand Valley State quarterback Cullen Finnerty, who died of an opioid overdose at age 30, sued the NCAA in Indiana state court with claims that the association did not properly protect Cullen or warn him about the risks of head injuries while playing college football at GVSU from 2002 to 2006. Following a three-week trial, the Indiana jury returned a verdict in just one hour finding in favor of the NCAA.

In addition to Pierson and Reilly, the Faegre Drinker team also included Brian Paul, Benjamin Broadhead, Bianca Eddy, Nicholas Alford, Tess Godhardt, Jessica Benson Cox and Victoria Yoke.

The case received signification media attention and was featured in The American Lawyer Litigation Daily’s “Litigator of the Week” section.

See ESPN’s coverage of the case and verdict for more details.