NFL, former players to settle concussion lawsuits for $765,000,000

[Deus Irae]

Report: Settlement in the NFL concussion litigation

NFL will pay $765 million "to fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation, and a program of medical research'' for 4,500 plaintiffs.

https://twitter.com/SI_PeterKing/status/373122938670546944

 

[jmt57]

Federal judge says the NFL, more than 4,500 former players want to settle concussion-related lawsuits for $765 million.



Personally I am surprised. I know the NFL practically prints money, but that's a lot of cash. They must have really wanted this thing to go away very badly .... and/or knew what would come out in trial would be very damaging - and even more costly.



The $765mm is "to provide medical benefits and injury compensation for retired NFL football players, fund medical and safety research, and cover litigation expenses."

 

[Uncle Rico]

The math bit:

Peter King ?@SI_PeterKing 5m
That is about $170,000 per player and/or player's estate.

 

[LivinLovin&Breathin_Brady]

I'm getting tired of these players trying to blame the NFL for their own short comings. Are they actually settling or still fighting?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The math bit:

Peter King ?@SI_PeterKing 5m
That is about $170,000 per player and/or player's estate.

More like $120,000 after legal fees. . . .

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Report: Settlement in the NFL concussion litigation

Here's the actual ruling for the legal wonks on the board (and we know now there are several):

NFL Concussion Litigation Settlement

 

[Brewskies]

Federal judge says the NFL, more than 4,500 former players want to settle concussion-related lawsuits for $765 million.



Personally I am surprised. I know the NFL practically prints money, but that's a lot of cash. They must have really wanted this thing to go away very badly .... and/or knew what would come out in trial would be very damaging.

I am guessing after legal fees it would be about $100,000 per player.

 

[DarrylS]

So the lawyers get 33%, that leaves about 113K per litigant after fees....

It sounds odd...

 

[Brewskies]

I'm getting tired of these players trying to blame the NFL for their own short comings. Are they actually settling or still fighting?

That's a discussion I don't want to get into.

 

[jmt57]

I am guessing after legal fees it would be about $100,000 per player.

Yeah, when you break it down to a per player basis it doesn't really seem like much at all, considering the impact it has had on their lives. That first figure jumped out at me; maybe they figured they wouldn't net that much more if they went to court.

 

[Bella*chick]

Yeah, when you break it down to a per player basis it doesn't really seem like much at all, considering the impact it has had on their lives. That first figure jumped out at me; maybe they figured they wouldn't net that much more if they went to court.

It does seem like an awfully low amount. Will it be divided equally? I feel like some of these players are probably really suffering and others (like Clinton Portis) are just beginning to question their physical and mental symptoms.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It does seem like an awfully low amount. Will it be divided equally? I feel like some of these players are probably really suffering and others (like Clinton Portis) are just beginning to question their physical and mental symptoms.

According to tweets above, no; individual claims will be capped at $5M.

 

[BradyFTW!]

More like $120,000 after legal fees. . . .

It'll be interesting to see how much of this settlement ends up going toward the research that was mentioned in the headline. $170K per player (great job Peter King, you can divide 765 by 4500, how very lofty of you) is just the top line. It sounds like it won't all be going directly to the players, but also to set up research and programs of some kind for the future.

 

[Zeus]

This settlement appears every bit as one sided as the last CBA deal.

 

[everlong]

23.9M/team. If they expand the arbitrary cost of 765M for a franchise will recoup their losses.

 

[chasa]

23.9M/team. If they expand the arbitrary cost of 765M for a franchise will recoup their losses.

that explains why the team signed tebow.

Need to recoup that 24 million via jersey sales

This settlement opens the door for all other injuries now. Hurt your leg? 765 million, Bum shoulder? 765 mil. Lisfranc? 765 mil.

Pandoras box has been opened.

 

[Uncle Rico]

This settlement appears every bit as one sided as the last CBA deal.

Breer — who, for all his douchy attitude on the football stuff seems to have a good handle on the legal bits — sees it this way:

Albert Breer ?@AlbertBreer 29m
This looks on the surface like a win for the NFL, which was under billions of dollars of legal liability, and will pay $765 million.


Hard to argue.

 

[everlong]

that explains why the team signed tebow.

Need to recoup that 24 million via jersey sales

This settlement opens the door for all other injuries now. Hurt your leg? 765 million, Bum shoulder? 765 mil. Lisfranc? 765 mil.

Pandoras box has been opened.

I wouldn't be surprised if player contracts all have language in them going forward that absolved the NFL of any responsibility and that the player recognizes they are with prior knowledge putting their health and well being at risk.

 

[chasa]

I wouldn't be surprised if player contracts all have language in them going forward that absolved the NFL of any responsibility and that the player recognizes they are with prior knowledge putting their health and well being at risk.

going forward yes, but this is for old mostly retired players in this settlement.

 

[JackBauer]

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think I'd trade my mental acuity for $100,000.