| | Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- The University of Pittsburgh settled a lawsuit
by a paralyzed football player, but the amount the player will be
paid was in dispute Tuesday.
Lawyers for Demale Stanley said he will get $31 million, but the
university put the sum at about $5 million.
Stanley contended the university and football coaches, including
Johnny Majors, were negligent during an indoor practice four years
ago when the player hit a padded concrete wall headfirst.
"Nothing can replace what I lost, but it does bring some
closure," Stanley said. "I can focus on getting better and
recovering."
The 23-year-old Stanley now helps at football practices at a
Florida high school. He said he drew inspiration from conversations
with former Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh quarterback Dan Marino.
University spokesman Ken Service said that in addition to the
settlement, the university paid all of Stanley's medical bills
under insurance required by the NCAA and provided to all football
players.
He said the university admitted no negligence but was happy the
case was over with a "reasonable settlement."
The $31 million settlement was reported Tuesday in the Palm
Beach Post, based on a statement from Stanley's lawyers. Willie
Gary, one of the lawyers, did not return a message Tuesday.
Stanley, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., was injured during a spring
1996 practice. His lawyers said coaches routinely had Stanley run
routes near a concrete wall. They said he ran into the wall the
previous day, but no corrections were made to prevent an accident.
Majors, who retired after the 1996 season but remains a
university fund-raiser, declined comment. He and other coaches were
defendants in the case.
Stanley was trying to catch a high pass March 22, 1996, when his
legs became tangled and he ran into a wall.
Doctors fused two of his vertebrae. Stanley said he can feel
tingling in his legs and feet and has some movement in one wrist,
although not enough to grip anything.
"This happened. I can't walk," he said. "But having a great
family and friends has helped me through. There's been so much
progress in research. Who knows?"
Pitt athletics department spokesman E.J. Borghetti said the
football team will no longer practice at the Cost Center, where
Stanley was injured. The Panthers will move July 1 to a new
training facility that it will share with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Borghetti said the Cost Center will still be used by other
varsity sports teams. | |
 |
