PHILADELPHIA. - Over 2,000 former NFL football players today filed suit against the league for concealing information that links concussions and other football -related head injuries to permanent brain damage.
In what's deemed as the "biggest sports lawsuit ever," by Good Morning America, over 80 independent lawsuits from former players are been consolidated as a single "master complaint." The plaintiffs filed today in a federal court in Philadelphia.
According to the former football players, the league intentionally kept studies and facts showing that repeated concussions occurring from the rough play inseparable from football results in permanent brain damage including, but not limited to, dementia, Alzheimer's, trauma, spine injuries and Lou Gehrig's disease. Plaintiffs also say that suicides of big-name players such as Dave Duerson were related to their brain-damages caused by football injuries. In fact, Deurson's family is among on of the plaintiffs.
Another plaintiff told the Associated Press, "The NFL, like the sport of boxing, was aware of the health risks associated with repetitive blows producing sub-concussive and concussive results and the fact that some members of the NFL player population were at significant risk of developing long-term brain damage and cognitive decline as a result," as covered by the New York Post.
The NFL denies all allegations, telling Good Morning America "that the NFL intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit."
Plaintiffs are seeking transparency from the NFL regarding the medical dangers of head injuries as well as holding them responsible for medical care for those suffering from any brain injury related to foot-ball.
The NFL, on the other hand, claims that it provides sufficient medical benefits for former players; including life-time care insurance as well as Medicare supplements programs.
Senior U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody will hear the case in Philadelphia.
