NHL Concussion Lawsuit Filed

Lawyers representing ten former NHL players are ready to take the league to court alleging that they did not sufficiently provide for the protection of players from head injuries. Hockey is an aggressive contact sport like football. Fans may recall that it was only this past August that the NFL settled the same type of class-action lawsuit for $765 million.

Players are more than willing to chase fame & fortune in professional sports, but for some their post-NHL careers are met with disabling injuries that can take years to manifest themselves. The players, which include legendary forward Gary Leeman, allege that the NHL made no changes to minimize potential head injuries until seven years after a study the league commissioned. The suit also alleges that the league should have known that current science would support reforms to minimize head trauma.

Bill Daly, the league’s Deputy Commissioner, issued a statement Monday.

“We are aware of the class-action lawsuit filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of a group of former NHL players. While the subject matter is very serious, we are completely satisfied with the responsible manner in which the league and the players’ association have managed player safety over time, including with respect to head injuries and concussions,” the statement said. “We intend to defend the case vigorously and have no further comment at this time.”

While it is true that in some respects the former players are suing the league for not protecting them from themselves, they accuse the league of hiding information from them as to how dangerous repeated head traumas could affect a their long-term health. Leeman, the once powerful forward from the Toronto Maple Leafs, now suffers dizziness, memory loss, and post-traumatic head syndrome from the concussions he suffered in his career. He is 49-years-old.

On The Web:
Ten ex-NHL players sue league over concussions
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/former-players-sue-league-over-concussions-gary-leeman-bill-daly-bradley-aitken-darren-banks-112513