NCAA Settles Head Injury Lawsuit

The NCAA has agreed to settle a class-action head injury lawsuit.  A federal court ruling obtained by The Associated Press says the NCAA will create a $70 million fund to test current and former college athletes for brain injuries.

Players can use the results later as grounds for suing for damages.

The NCAA also agreed to implement a single return-to-play policy spelling out how all teams must treat players who receive blows to the head.  
 
The settlement applies to multiple sports, including football, hockey, soccer, basketball, wrestling, field hockey and lacrosse. It covers both men and women.
 
The filing Tuesday in Chicago notifies a judge that the parties have struck a deal after nearly a year of talks.  Ten similar suits filed nationwide were consolidated into this lawsuit. 

The NCAA's chief medical officer, Brian Hainline, calls the settlement provisions "proactive measures'' that "will ensure student-athletes have access to high quality medical care.''
 
The Indianapolis-based NCAA also agrees to implement a single, return-to-play policy spelling out how all teams must treat players who receive head blows.
 
The agreement stops short of setting aside a fixed amount of money to pay players who suffered brain trauma. But it leaves open the possibility that individual athletes can sue the NCAA for damages.