Former football player sues high school, WPIAL, PIAA over concussion

PITTSBURGH — A local man filed a lawsuit Wednesday over a concussion he sustained while playing high school football.

Shane Skillpa used to played football for West Mifflin High School. During a summer practice in 2009, he sustained a concussion during what’s known as an Oklahoma Drill.

“From our investigation, both players’ helmets broke,” said Tony Plastino, an attorney representing Skillpa. “I played football, I’ve seen helmets break, but two helmets? That should give cause for alarm.”

Plastino said the impact left Skillpa dazed, but he did not receive medical treatment. He was told to sit out for a few minutes, and then was sent back into practice for the same drill.

According to Skillpa’s attorneys, he has severe brain trauma, depression, memory loss and PTSD.

“He suffers from unusual light sensitivity, anxiety, spacial relations problems, memory loss, all kinds of sleep issues,” said Richard Sandow, another attorney representing Skillpa.

The attorneys said Skillpa and other players were given baseline concussion tests at the beginning of the 2009 season, but there was no follow up, even though Skillpa struggled with drills days later that he normally performed well.

That’s part of the reason they’ve filed a lawsuit against the West Mifflin School District, the WPIAL and PIAA on Skillpa’s behalf.

Skillpa is a nursing student. A September examination found new and unidentified brain trauma, something his lawyers said could lead to CTE and shorten his life.

“It is a permanent diagnosis, and we believe that if he had been treated properly after the initial concussive event that we wouldn't be sitting here today,” Plastino said.

The West Mifflin School District and PIAA did not return calls for comment.

The WPIAL told Channel 11, “no comment.”

Cox Media Group