Ex-Pitt football player says he never knew about concussion lawsuit, withdraws claim

Craig Bokor remembers talking to an attorney about seven years ago when lawsuits were being filed regarding the likeness of college football players being used in video games.

“There were a handful of us who were interviewed,” he said.

Bokor, a defensive lineman at Pitt from 2005-09, said afterward that he never gave that discussion much thought.

So, earlier this month, when he learned from a news story that he was suing his beloved alma mater and the NCAA over concussions he’d sustained during his playing career, Bokor said he had no idea what was happening.

“There was never any idea of a lawsuit getting filed,” he said on Thursday. “We had no clue it was going to come to that.

“It wasn’t anything we agreed to or wanted to happen.”

On Thursday, Bokor’s class-action lawsuit was withdrawn, along with one filed by former Pitt wide receiver Joseph DelSardo.

The two complaints were filed on the same day, Feb. 12, by the same New York firm, Napoli Shkolnik, in federal court in Pittsburgh.

A message left with attorney W. Steven Berman on Thursday was not returned.

The notice of voluntary dismissal does not provide any explanation.

Bokor said he reached out to the firm that filed the complaint after he learned of it. He was told that the statute of limitations on his claims was running out.

“‘We had to get something out,’” the attorney told him.

But Bokor never agreed to a lawsuit. He wonders how the firm didn’t at least provide notice a complaint was about to be filed.

“I’m sure there was ample opportunity to get in contact with me,” Bokor said.

After he saw the story that said he was suing Pitt, he said, “I felt sick. … Pitt’s very good with me — even now.”

He still has close ties with the program and was embarrassed that anyone would think he’d willingly sue it.

Bokor admits that concussions were handled differently when he was playing than they are today.

“You got your bell rung, but you don’t want to lose your place in the game,” he said.

Still, he felt like Pitt cared about him as much as a parent would.

Another concern that stemmed from the lawsuit, Bokor said, were allegations in it that he was suffering from migraines, anxiety and memory loss from the concussions.

Bokor said none of that is true.

“I have no issues,” he said. He wondered, “Were they asking me how I felt when I had the concussion?”

Bokor now lives in Hopewell, where he grew up, and is raising five children. He also coaches football.

DelSardo could not be reached for comment.

Jessie Allen, who teaches professional responsibility at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, said that a lawyer should not file a lawsuit for someone who doesn’t want one filed.

“The client is the captain of the ship,” she said. “The client sets the goals.”

It’s unethical for an attorney to file a lawsuit without permission, Allen said.

“It’s not just unethical. It just doesn’t make sense.”

She thinks it’s possible it was a mistake.

“It’s hard for me to see this as a deliberate, deceptive move because it’s not going to pay off,” Allen said. “I think they just goofed.”