Athletes' Attorney Slams New NCAA Concussion Deal As "Window Dressing"
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Attorneys representing college athletes in a concussion lawsuit against the NCAA have criticized a proposed settlement.
The proposal would require the NCAA to establish a $70 million fund to test current and former college athletes for brain trauma. It also would require stricter rules for returning to play after an athlete has suffered a concussion.
U.S. District Judge John Lee is still weighing the proposed settlement, after rejecting an earlier version.
Plaintiffs' attorneys said this proposal is not any better than the first.
Jay Edelson said the reworked deal is no more than a smokescreen.
"It's really window dressing, and at the end of the day, the settlement they put together doesn't actually put money in the pockets of any injured people, at all," he said.
Instead, Edelson said the money would go to reimburse athletes for co-pays when they are tested for concussions, for research, and to lawyers.
NCAA attorney Steve Berman said the settlement would do what it is supposed to do: improve concussion protocols in college sports.
"This settlement never attempted to address, on a class-wide basis, injuries," he said.
Lee is expected to rule on the proposal by mid-June.