NFL Concussion Class Action Settlement

A settlement has been reached in the massive class action lawsuit accusing the National Football League (NFL) of not warning players and concealing the risks of brain injury. Retired players, legal representatives of incapacitated or deceased players, and families of deceased players may be eligible to receive benefits from the NFL concussion settlement.

The NFL concussion settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit that alleged retired players experienced head trauma during their NFL football playing careers that resulted in brain injuries, which have caused or may cause them long-term neurological problems. The players allege the NFL was aware of the evidence and risks associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries but failed to warn and protect the players against the long-term risks. Further, the players allege the NFL ignored and concealed this information from the players.

The NFL denies the allegations, but agreed to settle the concussion class action lawsuit to avoid the risk and uncertainty of continued litigation. The NFL concussion class action settlement was preliminarily approved on July 7, 2014.

Eligible Class Members will be able to register for benefits after the NFL class action settlement receives final approval.

UPDATE: The NFL concussion class action settlement received final approval on April 22, 2015.

UPDATE 2: On Apr. 18, 2016, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has approved an uncapped National Football League concussion settlement, finding that the deal is fair to the Class of retired players who suffered concussions during games and practices.

UPDATE 3: On Oct. 23, 2018, NFL players who were set to receive compensation from a traumatic brain injury settlement have discovered that their payout will be reduced to almost nothing.

Who’s Eligible

The NFL concussion settlement includes three categories of potential claimants:

1)      Retired NFL Football Players. All living NFL players who, prior to July 7, 2014, (1) have retired, formally or informally, from playing football with the NFL or any Member Club, or (2) were formerly on any roster of any such Member Club or league and are no longer under contract or seeking active employment as a player with any Member Club.

2)      Representative Claimants. Authorized representatives of deceased, legally incapacitated or incompetent retired NFL players.

3)      Family Members. Spouses, parents, dependent children, or other persons who properly under applicable state law assert the right to sue independently or derivatively by reason of their relationship with a living or deceased retired NFL football player.

The NFL class action settlement recognizes two Subclasses, based on the retired NFL player’s injury status prior to July 7, 2014.

Subclass 1 includes retired NFL football players who were not diagnosed with ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, early or moderate Dementia or death with CTE prior to July 7, 2014, and their representative and derivative claimants.

Subclass 2 includes retired NFL football players who were diagnosed with ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, early or moderate dementia prior to July 7, 2014, and their representative and derivative claimants. This subclass also includes representative claimants of retired players who were diagnosed with one of these conditions prior to death, or who died prior to July 7, 2014 and received a diagnosis of death with CTE.

Potential Award

The NFL concussion class action settlement provides for the following three benefits:

1)      Baseline medical exams for retired NFL players;

2)      Monetary awards for diagnoses of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, and certain cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosed after death; and

3)      Education programs and initiatives related to football safety.

All valid claims for injury will be paid in full for 65 years.

Proof of Injury

Class Members do not have to prove that the players’ injuries were caused by playing NFL football to get money from the class action settlement.

Registration Form

Claim Form Deadline

Class Members will be able to register for benefits after the Court grants final approval of the NFL concussion class action settlement. If you would like to receive more information on how to register for the NFL concussion settlement once it is approved, you can submit a form, which is available on the settlement website.

Case Name

In re: National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation, Case No. 2:12-md-02323, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Final Hearing

11/19/2014

Settlement Website

https://www.nflconcussionsettlement.com/

Claims Administrator

NFL Concussion Settlement
P.O. Box 25369
Richmond, VA 23260
1-855-887-3485

Class Counsel

Christopher A. Seeger
SEEGER WEISS LLP

Sol Weiss
ANAPOL SCHWARTZ

Steven C. Marks
PODHURST ORSECK PA

Gene Locks
LOCKS LAW FIRM

Arnold Levin
LEVIN FISHBEIN SEDRAN & BERMAN

Dianne M. Nast
NAST LAW LLC

Defense Counsel

N/A