A federal judge has approved a plan to resolve thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits that could cost the league $1billion over 65 years.The awards could reach $1 million to $5 million for those diagnosed in their 30s and 40s with Parkinson’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or for deaths involving chronic brain trauma.The NFL expects 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia someday. The settlement approved Wednesday by a federal judge in Philadelphia would pay them about $190,000 on average.
The league has been dogged for years by complaints that it long hid the risks of repeated concussions in order to return players to the field.
Players’ lawyers have argued that the settlement will help families get needed financial awards or medical testing that might take years if the case went to trial.
Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody approved the deal after twice sending it back to lawyers over concerns the fund might run out. The negotiators did not increase the original $765 million plan, but agreed to remove that number as the cap.
The deal means the NFL may never have to disclose what it knew when about the risks and treatment of concussions.
The league’s top lawyer said Brody’s approval “powerfully underscores the fairness and propriety” of the settlement.
“Retirees and their families will be eligible for prompt and substantial benefits and will avoid years of costly litigation that — as Judge Brody’s comprehensive opinion makes clear — would have an uncertain prospect of success,” NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said in a statement.
The total NFL payouts over 65 years, including interest and $112 million sought for lawyer fees, is expected to be more than $1 billion.
Critics contend the NFL is getting off lightly given annual revenues of about $10 billion. But plaintiffs would have first had to fight their way into court — instead of getting booted to NFL mediation under their players’ contracts — to prevail.
The league has been dogged for years by complaints that it long hid the risks of repeated concussions in order to return players to the field.
Players’ lawyers have argued that the settlement will help families get needed financial awards or medical testing that might take years if the case went to trial.
Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody approved the deal after twice sending it back to lawyers over concerns the fund might run out. The negotiators did not increase the original $765 million plan, but agreed to remove that number as the cap.
The deal means the NFL may never have to disclose what it knew when about the risks and treatment of concussions.
The league’s top lawyer said Brody’s approval “powerfully underscores the fairness and propriety” of the settlement.
“Retirees and their families will be eligible for prompt and substantial benefits and will avoid years of costly litigation that — as Judge Brody’s comprehensive opinion makes clear — would have an uncertain prospect of success,” NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said in a statement.
The total NFL payouts over 65 years, including interest and $112 million sought for lawyer fees, is expected to be more than $1 billion.
Critics contend the NFL is getting off lightly given annual revenues of about $10 billion. But plaintiffs would have first had to fight their way into court — instead of getting booted to NFL mediation under their players’ contracts — to prevail.
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