Youth Football Organization Settles Lawsuit by Wisconsin Woman

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Pop Warner organization has settled a lawsuit brought by a Wisconsin woman who alleged her 25-year-old son's suicide resulted from brain injuries he suffered while playing youth football.

Pop Warner spokesman Brian Heffron confirmed a settlement was reached but said Wednesday he couldn't discuss details.

Debra Pyka was seeking at least $5 million from Langhorne, Pennsylvania-based Pop Warner Little Scholars, the Pop Warner Foundation and their insurance company.

Her son, Joseph Chernach, hanged himself in Pyka's shed in Hixton, Wisconsin in 2012. The federal lawsuit alleged Chernach suffered from a degenerative brain disease and also had post-concussion syndrome. The suit alleged he got them from playing in a Pop Warner league from 1997 to 2000, beginning when he was 11.