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On Friday, plaintiff lawyers in the case Gee v. NCAA revealed they’re seeking a minimum of $1.8 million in damages from the NCAA for allegedly causing the death of former USC linebacker Matthew Gee.
Plaintiff Alana Gee — Matthew’s widow — is also asking that the NCAA return all the money it has earned as a result of its negligence, court documents previously said.
If she wins, the NCAA could be forced to pay an additional $100 million or more, sports attorney Dan Lust previously told Front Office Sports.
The case, first filed in Nov. 2020, could finally hand down a ruling on the NCAA’s culpability with brain injuries.
During the trial, which began in earnest on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Alana Gee’s lawyers have argued that the repeated head trauma Matthew Gee suffered while playing linebacker at USC caused him to develop CTE — which ultimately led to his death at the age of 49.
The NCAA is responsible, her lawyers said, because it knew about the significant health impacts of repeated head trauma, hid that evidence from players, and failed to protect players.
The NCAA vehemently denies all allegations in court documents. But if it loses, it could face much more severe consequences than emptying its pocketbook — it could be forced to take responsibility for protecting athletes from brain injuries going forward.
Editor’s Note: Reporting of Gee v. NCAA was assisted by Courtroom View Network, which provided a livestream of the trial.
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