NFL settles $857 million concussion lawsuit
How much is a blow to the head worth? It's a
question which has perplexed elite sports for decades, particularly
as contact sports become more intense and the risk to its
participants increases.
In a move which has sports bodies around the world watching
closely, America's peak football body has reached a settlement
which gives an answer to that question: three quarters of a billion
dollars.
The National Football League (NFL) has reached a tentative US$765
million ($857 million) settlement over concussion-related brain
injuries in which it agrees to compensate those affected by
injuries and invest in medical research.
More than 4500 former athletes, some suffering from
concussion-related injuries, had sued the NFL claiming they had
either concealed the risks associated with concussion, or had sent
injured players back out to play.
The settlement has come after several months of mediation between
the two groups. It still has to be approved by a federal judge.
Under the settlement, all former NFL players are eligible to seek
compensation based on their age, condition and the number of years
they played. Players currently in the NFL are not covered by the
settlement.
US$675 million of the settlement will be directly allocated to
former players, or their families, who have suffered "cognitive
injury"
The balance will be spent on medical research and healthcare costs
for former players who are still undergoing medical
examinations.
The settlement effectively means the issue won't be tested in
court - a move which many observers felt would place immense
pressure on competitive sport as its policies and procedures were
tested legally.
"It's more important that the players have finality, that they're
vindicated," Philadelphia-based lawyer Sol Weiss said on
Thursday.
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