Colo. jury finds Riddell negligent in helmet suit

A lawyer says a Colorado jury has awarded $11.5 million to a man whose family sued helmet maker Riddell Inc. and his coaches over brain injuries from a high school football practice in 2008.

Rhett Ridolfi’s lawyer Frank Azar said the jury found Saturday that Riddell was negligent in failing to warn people wearing its helmets about concussion dangers.

The jury assessed 27 percent of the fault for Ridolfi’s injuries to Riddell and the rest to coaches. Azar said Sunday that he’ll ask a judge to find Riddell responsible for paying all $11.5 million in damages.

Riddell said it plans to appeal the verdict but is pleased that jurors determined its helmet wasn’t defective.

Riddell also is named in a lawsuit by former NFL players against the league.