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Ex-high school football player suing school over brain injury

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A former central Florida varsity football player is suing his old high school, saying it didn't protect him on the field.

The suit said Zachary Caslow vomited, experienced blurred vision and even became disoriented during games and practices, but coaches allowed him to play until the final incident.

Caslow was sidelined four years ago when he played high school football for Orangewood Christian School in Maitland after showing signs of a concussion.

Court papers said a team trainer conducted a test on the junior varsity football player and the results verified that, but he was still allowed to play.

The final straw came during a game in October 2009 when two big hits on running plays reportedly caused traumatic brain injury.

Caslow is suing the school for negligence.

"The concussion phenomenon is really new. We've seen it in the NFL. We've seen it in the college level. We're now seeing the effects of concussions at the high school level," said WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer.

The lawsuit said Caslow suffered permanent physical and mental injuries to his head and brain and that he's also lost mental capacity.

"And now we're going to see medically what effect, what long-term effect, do these concussions have, and certainly the responsibility as to the school and the players themselves," said Sheaffer.

The suit claims the school was negligent because coaches and staff allowed him to play, knowing he had a concussion.