A widow's battle against a major sports organization has taken center stage in a legal dispute that questions the responsibility of governing bodies to protect athletes from long-term health risks. Alana Gee filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Los Angeles County on December 24, 2024, claiming that the NCAA's negligence contributed to her husband Matthew Gee's death.
Matthew Gee, who played football for the University of Southern California (USC) from 1988 to 1992, passed away in 2018 at the age of 49. His death was attributed to alcohol and cocaine toxicity combined with cardiovascular disease. However, after his passing, his brain was examined and found to have Stage II Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repeated head trauma. Alana Gee argues that CTE significantly contributed to her husband's substance abuse and subsequent death. She accuses the NCAA of failing to implement safety measures that could have reduced the risk of CTE among college football players.
The case highlights a broader issue within college sports regarding player safety and the duty of care owed by organizations like the NCAA. Alana Gee contends that the NCAA should have taken steps such as sharing medical literature about head injuries, educating players and coaches on safe playing techniques, enforcing existing rules more strictly, and limiting full-contact practices. These measures, she argues, would not have altered the fundamental nature of football but could have mitigated risks associated with repeated head impacts.
The NCAA defended itself by invoking the assumption of risk doctrine, which suggests that participants in sports inherently accept certain risks associated with their activities. The organization also argued its status as an unincorporated association absolves it from liability for member institutions' actions or failures to enact safety regulations. Despite acknowledging inherent risks in football, Alana Gee believes these do not extend to conditions like CTE if preventive measures are possible without changing the sport’s essence.
Ultimately, the court sided with the NCAA, affirming that they did not increase inherent risks beyond those accepted by players like Matthew Gee during his college career. The judgment reflects ongoing debates about accountability in sports organizations for athlete health issues arising long after their playing days are over.
Representing Alana Gee were attorneys Todd Logan, Roger Perlstadt, Amy B. Hausmann, and Hannah Hilligoss from Edelson law firm. The defense team for NCAA included Christopher J. Schmidt and others from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. The case was presided over by Judge Terry Green under Case ID B327691.