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The Latest: Ohio court considers lawsuit over concussions

Published Apr. 11, 2018 11:34 a.m. ET

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Latest on a former college football player suing over concussion-related injuries (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

The lawyer for the widow of a former University of Notre Dame football player has told the Ohio Supreme Court a lawsuit over the effect of concussions on the player should be allowed to proceed.

Attorney David Langfitt told the court Wednesday that ex-running back and receiver Steve Schmitz was not aware he was suffering injuries during his playing days.

At issue is whether Schmitz' widow can sue the school and the NCAA over allegations her husband suffered brain disease caused by concussions in the 1970s but not diagnosed until decades later.

Matthew Kairis (KEHR'-ihs) is an attorney representing Notre Dame. He told court justices that under Ohio law, Schmitz' window to sue closed two years after his college career.

Schmitz died in February 2015.

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Midnight

The Ohio Supreme Court will decide whether the widow of a former University of Notre Dame football player can sue the school and the NCAA over allegations her husband was disabled by concussions from his college career in the 1970s.

Steve and Yvette Schmitz filed a lawsuit in Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County in October 2014 alleging the institutions showed ''reckless disregard'' for player safety and failed to protect them from concussions.

Steve Schmitz died in February 2015. The lawsuit says the Cleveland Clinic diagnosed him with a brain disease related to numerous concussions.

The state's high court planned to hear arguments from both sides on Wednesday.

The NCAA and Notre Dame say too much time has passed to allow the lawsuit to proceed.

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