More former players from the National Football League have come forward with a personal injury, fraud, and negligence lawsuit against the league that argues it withheld information linking concussions to dementia and brain disease.
CBS Sports reports that the lawsuit accuses the NFL of publishing nonscientific papers that downplayed the link between concussions and brain injuries. The papers were written by the league's medical committee.
Among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are former Philadelphia Eagle Ron Solt, who suffers from substantial memory loss, and University of Hawaii Assistant Coach Rich Miano, who is asymptomatic but requires medical monitoring. The lawsuit suit seeks more than $5 million on behalf of seven players named, as well as four spouses and other ex-players who may join if it attains class action status.
"Rather than warn players that they risked permanent brain injury if they returned to play too soon after sustaining a concussion, the NFL actively deceived players, by misrepresenting to them that concussions did not present serious, life-altering risks," charges the suit, according to CBS.
The NFL faces a string of similar suits. It is attempting to consolidate the cases before the U.S. District Judge who was assigned the first NFL concussion case last summer. The league also is seeking dismissal of the lawsuits on grounds the claims are barred under the players' collective bargaining agreements.
If you or a loved one have been deceived by a former employer and hurt because of it, speak to Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation today regarding a workplace injury lawsuit.