NFL veterans seek to revise $1 billion concussion settlement agreement
NFL Concussion Settlement Under Scrutiny as Critics Question Fairness
A class-action lawsuit involving over 5,000 former National Football League (NFL) players is causing a stir, with the recent approval of a $1 billion settlement. While the majority of players have accepted the deal, some lawyers are urging a federal appeals court to reconsider the accord.
The settlement, approved by Federal District Court Judge Anita Brody, provides payments of up to $5 million for former players diagnosed with certain neurological disorders. It also includes medical monitoring and concussion education. However, critics argue that the settlement unfairly favors currently injured retirees, ignoring a potential 19,000 players who have yet to be diagnosed with neurological diseases.
At the heart of the controversy is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head. Autopsies found that some former NFL players who have committed suicide, including Junior Seau in 2012 and Adrian Robinson in 2015, had contracted CTE. Scientists believe that within five to 10 years, better methods will be developed to identify CTE more readily.
Samuel Issacharoff, a lawyer for the settling players, argues that the settlement is fair given what is known about the long-term effects of playing football. He compares the settlement to car accident cases, stating that injuries today may worsen in the future, but a settlement must still be accepted. On the other hand, attorney Steven Molo, a lawyer for the objecting players, refers to CTE as the "soundpiece" of the original complaint. He argues that the settlement does not account for the evolution of science regarding CTE.
Paul Clement, a lawyer representing the NFL, argues in favor of the accord, calling it "fair, reasonable, and more than adequate." He notes that out of the entire group of plaintiffs, less than 1% is objecting and less than 1% is opting out. Clement states that the settlement offers "good value."
Lawyers representing some former NFL players are urging a federal appeals court to scrap the league's $1 billion concussion settlement. They claim that the settlement does not cover potential victims of CTE and does not adequately address the long-term health issues faced by the players. The law firm representing the players against the NFL concussion settlement was Wigdor LLP, where attorney Steven Molo worked.
As the debate continues, the future of the NFL concussion settlement remains uncertain. The appeals court is expected to make a decision in the coming months. Regardless of the outcome, the controversy highlights the ongoing concern for the long-term health of former NFL players and the need for continued research into the effects of repeated head trauma.
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