The Lanier Law Firm Announces Historic NCAA Sickle Cell Policy Change Following Settlement...

The Lanier Law Firm Announces Historic NCAA Sickle Cell Policy Change
Following Settlement Honoring Memory of Student-Athlete Dale Lloyd II

HOUSTON, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted trial lawyer Mark Lanier, founder of
The Lanier Law Firm, is announcing that the family of Rice University student
athlete Dale R. Lloyd II has settled a wrongful death lawsuit against the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that will result in the NCAA
recommending for the first time that all collegiate student athletes be tested
for the sickle cell trait. Gene Egdorf of The Lanier Law Firm served as lead
counsel for the Lloyd family and negotiated the settlement.

Mr. Lloyd died in September 2006 following practice with the Rice football
team. Medical examiners ruled that Mr. Lloyd died as a result of "acute
excertional rhabdomyolysis secondary to sickle cell trait." Neither Mr. Lloyd
nor his family were aware that Mr. Lloyd carried the sickle cell trait, and
the NCAA did not require testing for the trait in 2006 despite numerous
reports of other athlete deaths attributed to the sickle cell trait.

As a result of the litigation and settlement, the NCAA has agreed for the
first time to include in the NCAA Website and the NCAA Sports Medical Handbook
a recommendation that university athletic departments test all athletes for
the sickle cell trait. The Lloyd family has sought the implementation of this
measure to protect other student athletes since their son passed away. The
sickle cell trait appears in approximately 8-9% of the African-American
population, and is found less commonly in all races.

"This settlement is the first step in preventing tragic deaths like Dale's
from ever happening again," says Mr. Lanier. "The Lloyd family is pleased
that the NCAA stepped up and settled this matter in a way that honors their
son's memory and also funds research that will save lives."

The NCAA also agreed to insert a "Point of Emphasis" regarding sickle cell
testing in its Football Rulebook in conjunction with a press conference
scheduled for August. In addition, the NCAA will produce an educational video
for coaches, athletic trainers and student athletes about the dangers of the
sickle cell trait, and provide a $50,000 donation to the Sickle Cell Disease
Association of America and a $10,000 donation to the Dale R. Lloyd II
Scholarship Fund. Mr. Lanier also will be contributing $20,000 to the
scholarship fund in recognition of the Lloyd family.

"From the beginning of this case, our goal was to have the NCAA recommend and
implement a testing program to prevent further deaths related to the sickle
cell trait," says Mr. Egdorf. "Many respected medical professionals and sickle
cell support groups have tried to get this policy adopted for years, and I am
honored to be involved on behalf of the Lloyd family in accomplishing
something that will make a difference in the lives of student athletes across
the nation."

Donations to the Dale R. Lloyd II Scholarship Fund can be made through the
fund's Web site at: http://www.dalerlloyd2scholarshipfund.org/.

With offices in Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Houston and New York, The Lanier Law
Firm is committed to addressing client concerns with effective and innovative
solutions in courtrooms across the country. The firm is composed of
outstanding trial attorneys with decades of experience handling cases
involving sports law, pharmaceutical liability, asbestos exposure,
intellectual property, business litigation, product liability, toxic exposure
and maritime law.

For more information on the lawsuit and settlement, please contact Bruce
Vincent at 800.559.4534 or bruce@legalpr.com.

SOURCE The Lanier Law Firm

Bruce Vincent, 1-800-559-4534, bruce@legalpr.com, for The Lanier Law Firm