GPW Trying First NCAA ALS Case
The first lawsuit dealing with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and collegiate football is being tried by Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. attorney Jason Luckasevic. He is representing a former firefighter who played football for five seasons at the California University of Pennsylvania in Washington, PA from 1999-2003. While there, Matthew Onyshko suffered at least 20 concussions resulting in black outs, but was never taken out on a stretcher. He is suing the NCAA because it did not protect athletes from concussions and the effects caused by them. Matthew is now bound to a wheelchair and cannot speak verbally, using a machine called “Eye Gaze” to speak for him.
The NCAA objected to the lawsuit, arguing that it has no legal obligation to protect Onyshko from risks associated with playing collegiate football. It also argued that the injuries he sustained did not cause ALS. Luckasevic argues that the NCAA failed in its duty to provide proper monitoring, supervision, education, and training to the players.
Jason Luckasevic is internationally known for concussion lawsuits—he was the first lawyer to file suits against the NFL on behalf of 120 retired players. Last June he settled a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit against the NCAA on behalf of Greg Ploetz, a former Texas Longhorn.
If you played football collegiately or professionally and now have a debilitating condition like ALS you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form at the very bottom of this page.
