In April and May 2026, a Dallas County jury returned verdicts totaling $140 million in Davis v. NCAA, Cause No. CC-20-01121-D, in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas. The jury awarded $30 million in compensatory damages on April 27 and $110 million in punitive damages on May 4 in a case alleging the NCAA failed to warn a former college football player about the long-term risks of repetitive head trauma.
The six-year case was brought on behalf of the family of J.T. Davis, who played football at Southern Methodist University in the 1950s. Mr. Davis died after a nearly two-decade battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) dementia.
The Davis Family’s Story
J.T. Davis spent years living with the devastating effects of CTE before his death. His wife, Karol Davis, left her job to serve as his full-time caregiver. Karol suffered a stroke during that time and passed away before the case ever went to trial.
Their son, John Mark Davis, testified at trial about the toll CTE took on his father and their family. “Players like my dad should have been warned about the risks of playing college football, and the NCAA should have done more to study the issue,” said John Mark Davis.
What Plaintiffs Alleged at Trial
According to evidence introduced at trial and described in court filings, plaintiffs alleged that NCAA leadership was aware of the long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma, including CTE, and did not warn players such as Mr. Davis.
Plaintiffs further alleged that the NCAA did not follow a provision of its own constitution requiring it to study the effects of sports on athletes. Trial exhibits introduced by the plaintiffs included internal NCAA documents which, plaintiffs argued, indicated that NCAA medical experts had information dating back to the 1930s regarding progressive neurodegenerative disease in college football players.
The NCAA’s Defense
At trial, the NCAA argued that there is a lack of evidence establishing that CTE is caused by repeated head impacts and disputed that CTE causes clinical symptoms. The NCAA characterized CTE as a “hypothetical” disease.
In response, plaintiffs introduced internal communications attributed to former NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline that, plaintiffs argued, addressed CTE-related clinical symptoms and the risk profile of college football players.
The Verdict
The jury first returned a compensatory verdict of $30 million on the morning of April 27, 2026. On May 4th, jurors added $110 million in punitive damages, bringing the total verdict to $140 million. Under Texas law, punitive damages are intended to punish wrongful conduct and deter similar behavior in the future.
Understanding CTE
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive brain condition that has been linked to repeated head impacts, including both concussions and subconcussive hits – impacts that do not produce immediate concussion symptoms but may still cause cumulative damage over time.
Symptoms of CTE can include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, mood changes, aggression, depression, and progressive dementia. These symptoms often do not appear until years or even decades after an individual’s playing career has ended, making early diagnosis extremely difficult. In many cases, CTE can only be definitively confirmed through examination of brain tissue after death.
For athletes who played contact sports at the collegiate level, particularly football, the concern is that years of repetitive head impacts during practices and games may have caused neurological damage that was neither diagnosed nor disclosed during their time as student-athletes. The question at the center of Davis v. NCAA – whether the NCAA had a responsibility to warn players about these risks and study the effects of head trauma – is one that carries implications for thousands of former college athletes across the country.
NCAA Head Injury Litigation in Context
The Davis case is not the first legal challenge the NCAA has faced over head and brain injuries sustained by student-athletes. In 2016, the NCAA reached a settlement in a class action that provided medical monitoring and testing for former players who competed at NCAA member schools during or before that year.
However, the Davis case is distinct. It is an individual lawsuit – not a class action – brought by one family seeking damages for one player’s injuries and death. Individual cases allow a jury to hear the specific facts of a single athlete’s experience and return a verdict based on those facts alone. The $140 million verdict reflects what this particular jury determined based on the evidence presented in this specific case.
The size of the punitive damages – more than three times the compensatory award – indicates that the jury found the NCAA’s alleged conduct to be not merely negligent, but deserving of punishment and deterrence.
What Former College Athletes Should Know
Former college athletes who played contact sports and are now experiencing neurological symptoms – persistent headaches, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, or cognitive decline – may have legal options available to them.
A few important considerations for former athletes and their families:
- Symptoms can appear late. CTE and other conditions related to repetitive head trauma may not produce noticeable symptoms until many years after the last exposure. The absence of a diagnosis during or immediately after a playing career does not mean an injury did not occur.
- Medical documentation matters. Any records of head injuries, concussions, or neurological symptoms – whether from during an athlete’s playing career or afterward – can be critical in establishing a legal claim.
- Time limits apply. Statutes of limitations govern how long an individual has to file a lawsuit after an injury is discovered or should have been discovered. These deadlines vary by state and by the specific circumstances of each case. Consulting with an attorney sooner rather than later helps preserve legal options.
- Family members can pursue claims. As the Davis case demonstrates, surviving family members may be able to bring claims on behalf of a deceased athlete, particularly when CTE or other brain injuries contributed to the athlete’s decline and death.
If you or a family member played college sports and are dealing with symptoms that may be related to head injuries sustained during play, the attorneys at Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. can help evaluate your situation and explain your legal options.
Contact Shrader & Associates, L.L.P.
John Mark Davis was represented by Bill Horton, D’Arcy Rapp, Jim Hartle, Gabriela Lopez-Ruperto, and Justin Shrader of Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. in Houston, Texas.
If you or a loved one suffered a serious head or brain injury while playing college sports, Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. can help. Our attorneys have decades of experience holding institutions accountable for failing to protect the people in their care. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.