A federal judge in Illinois granted final approval to a $75 million settlement in a class action involving concussions in student-athletes. The settlement between the NCAA and millions of student-athletes establishes a $70 million medical monitoring fund that will pay for assessments of self-reported concussion symptoms and medical evaluations, if necessary. The monitoring will be available for 50 years, but class members can bring individual and class claims for monitoring if the fund depletes before the end of that time frame.

The deal calls for the NCAA to change its concussion management and return-to-play policies to reflect best practices. It also requires the organization to contribute $5 million within the first 10 years to concussion-related research that it otherwise would not have funded without the settlement.

The case is In re National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Concussion Injury Litigation, case number 1:13-cv-09116, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

This blog is intended to provide information to the general public and to practitioners about developments that may impact Oregon class actions.