Paralyzed Youth Wins Nearly $11 Million From Helmet Firm

Riddell Inc., manufacturer of a controversial low-cut helmet worn by a young Ontario High School football player who broke his neck and became a paraplegic as the result of a practice field accident three years ago, should pay him nearly $11 million, a jury decided Monday.

Jurors concluded after a 20-day trial before Ontario Superior Court Judge Kenneth G. Ziebarth and four days of deliberation that Daniel Jaramillo, now 17, sustained damages amounting to $15 million.

But they subtracted the $3 million already received in settlements with Chaffee Joint Union High School District and Richco, the firm that reconditioned the used helmet he wore. They also decided that the youth was partly to blame, deducting another 7.5% to make the judgment against Riddell $10,875,000.

Although the manufacturer now is required to attach a label warning that the helmet should not be used in ramming or spearing tackles, at the risk of serious neck injury, the one worn by Jaramillo as a 14-year-old freshman going out for his first year of high school football was an old one without the label.