Posted on 03/07/2005 3:16:50 PM PST by SmithL
OAKLAND - Former Oakland Raider Marcus Williams has suffered "irreversible" brain damage as a result of being punched in the face in August 2003 by then-teammate Bill Romanowski, a doctor testified today.
Dr. William Mathews, who has 37 years' experience as a brain surgeon, testified in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland as a witness for Williams in the ex-player's multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit against Romanowski.
Williams, 27, alleges his promising National Football League career when Romanowski knocked his helmet off and delivered a practice-field uppercut on Aug. 24, 2003. James Brosnahan, Williams' lead attorney, said the punch broke Williams' eye socket and caused brain trauma, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mathews, who is affiliated with several Bay Area hospitals including John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and Mount Diablo Medical Center in Concord, testified today about his observations of the effects of the blow.
"Overall, I think that Marcus Williams has a traumatic injury to his brain that in some aspects is irreversible," Mathews testified.
The surgeon said the injury has manifested itself in changes in Williams' personality and has also affected his intellect, speech, memory, vision and balance. Some of those changes, the doctor testified, are "probably irreversible."
Several of Williams' family members, including his mother and grandmother, testified last week in the civil trial that the punch had broken his spirit, transforming him from an upbeat and gregarious young man to someone who is now irritable and withdrawn.
Romanowski's attorney have rejected that notion that the punch resulted in any serious injuries and have characterized Williams as a marginal player now looking for an illegitimate payday.
Mathews is expected to continue testifying this afternoon.
Bill Romanowski is one of the biggest a-holes in the history of American Sport.
I hope he gets the pants sued off his steroid-bloated arse.
Ya... a busted eye socket - no big deal.
I guess Romanowski's as big as a$$ho1e as his client.
I guess Romanowski's LAWYER is as big as a$$ho1e as his client.
This is such a BS lawsuit it is mind-numbing - and even more mind-numbing that Freepers on here actually act like they support the lawsuit -
These are grow aggressive men going at it - A fight broke out on the practice field - So what! There is no place for our court rooms in this! - Gezz.
We are growing a society of wimps more and more -
We knew that when the lawyer showed up in court in a Raider's uniform.
; )
Again, we are growing a society of wimps and sue happy freaks if you think this lawsuit is just.
Football is an aggressive sport - Fights happen all the time at practice - Deal with it.
DITTO
You and Romansowski are a bunch of neanderthals.
Romanowski smashed his eye-socket and jammed the entire mess into his brain. If you think that's not a big deal, why not sign up for a free hit?
There ought to be criminal charges.
Nonsense! It wasn't a fight, it was a sucker punch that broke his eye socket. Romanowski should be in jail.
I have taken my share of as* whipin's and given my share - So I'd deal with it and move on -
What I wouldn't do is sue! - My god is that simply ugly and about as swarmy and act as can be imagined.
This happened at a football practice! - Not out walking the street - Football is a violent sport - it is an aggressive sport - emotions get going and fights happen - You deal with it - period.
The act of suing over something like this turns my stomach and makes me question the fortitude of Americans anymore -
What a shame they can't throw faking plaintiffs in jail.
BS! - It happened on a football field! - You've obviously never played football at a competitive level (mine ended in my college years due to me not having the wheels needed for the next level) -
But to suggest this is a criminal act is simply BS! - Fights happen on the practice field daily! - 99.9% of guys just have more in their sack then to run to a lawyer and sue! -
Simply ugly and no wonder we are becoming a sue happy nation when even conservatives are starting to support these types of silly lawsuits.
Well, despite the fact that the injury from Romo is what ended his career, not any previous damage, what part of football includes ripping off a fellow teammates' helmet and punching him in the face hard enough to smash his eye socket?
THAT is football?
A fight may be a fight, but if you instigate the fight, and crush someone's eye socket, ruining their footbal career, well then, you should probably expect some consequences.
He didn't rip off his helmet and punch the guy while running for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
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