The father of a former collegiate football player is suing Arizona State University and the NCAA in federal court after it was discovered his son had developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) prior to his 2018 suicide.
Jason Franklin, an undersized linebacker at Arizona State University, committed suicide during a CTE-induced mental breakdown that was caused by four concussions he suffered while playing college football, according to the lawsuit.
In the filing, Franklin’s father Gregg alleges that flawed concussion management policies contributed to his son developing CTE and committing suicide at the age of 26.
“Unfortunately, while defendants (ASU and NCAA) knew about the harmful and devastating effects of these sub-concussive and concussive injuries, they recklessly ignored these facts and failed to implement reasonable concussion management protocols to protect its athletes, including Jason Franklin,” according to the lawsuit.
The suit seeks class-action status for all now-deceased ASU football players from 1952 to 2015 who were diagnosed with neurodegenerative disorders in life or after death.
On behalf of Sun Devil Football, we wish to send our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of alumnus Jason Franklin.
Our thoughts are with everyone close to Jason in this extremely tough time. pic.twitter.com/I38uzLgFOu
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) July 16, 2018
A walk-on in 2011 who went on to receive a scholarship, Franklin was named ASU’s Glen Hawkins Scout Team Defensive MVP at the team’s 2015 awards banquet and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in communications.
Following his college career, Franklin was working in media in the Phoenix area.
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