When families face off against powerful national institutions, they need a legal team with the reach and experience to win on a grand scale. Recently, attorney Bill Horton of Horton Law Firm (Of Counsel at Shrader & Associates), working alongside the elite trial team at Shrader & Associates LLP, secured a historic $140 million total jury verdict against the NCAA in Dallas County, Texas.
The case was brought on behalf of the family of former Southern Methodist University (SMU) football player J.T. Davis, who developed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE): a progressive and devastating brain disease following his college career.
A Landmark Verdict: $30M in Damages, $110M in Punitive Damages
Following a six-year legal battle, a Dallas County jury sent a resounding message regarding athlete safety. After awarding an initial $30 million to the Davis family for their suffering and loss, the jury proceeded to a punitive damages phase.
The Evidence: Decades of Withheld Truths
The trial revealed that the NCAA’s failure to warn athletes was not a simple oversight. Evidence presented to the jury included:
- Internal Knowledge: Documents indicating that NCAA medical officials recognized neurological risks associated with football as early as the 1930s.
- Failure to Warn: Despite this knowledge, the organization failed to warn players or implement measures to reduce head impacts.
- The “Smokescreen”: While the NCAA argued Mr. Davis’s condition was unrelated to football, the trial team successfully exposed these claims as a “smokescreen” designed to avoid responsibility.
“The NCAA built a system that depended on young athletes absorbing thousands of hits while withholding the truth about the risks,” said lead counsel Bill Horton. “This verdict confirms they knew and chose not to act”.
The Trial Team
Complex litigation of this magnitude requires a world-class collaborative effort. The Davis family was represented by:
- Bill Horton (Horton Law Firm /Of Counsel)
- D’Arcy Rapp, Jim Hartle, Gabriella Lopez, and Justin Shrader (Shrader & Associates LLP)
Understanding CTE and Athlete Safety
CTE is a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated blows to the head. Because symptoms often emerge decades after the original trauma, families like the Davises are frequently left searching for answers long after an athlete’s playing days are over.
Symptoms of CTE can include:
- Memory loss and cognitive decline
- Mood or personality changes
- Loss of independence and motor function
National Reach, Local Representation
While Bill Horton resides and works primarily in Northwest Arkansas, his role as Of Counsel to Shrader & Associates allows him to lead high-stakes, nine-figure litigation in major hubs like Dallas. This verdict proves that Arkansas families have access to one of the most successful trial attorneys in the country.
If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury or needs answers regarding a wrongful death claim, contact Bill Horton for a free consultation.
Visit CallHorton.com to learn more about our commitment to justice.