As NFL Training Camps Begin, Lawsuits Continue To Be Filed

PHILADELPHIA, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As NFL training camps around the country begin, the NFL continues to be hit with more concussion related lawsuits. A suit filed this week in Philadelphia Federal Court names 92 retired players and 72 of their wives. The lawsuit includes Hall of Famers Ron Yary and Roger Wehrli. The suit also names former Minnesota Vikings great and 5 time pro bowler Chuck Foreman. Additional players named in the lawsuit include former quarterback Bobby Hebert, former linebacker Ted Hendricks, and former quarterback Scott Brunner.

The lawsuit is just the latest brought against the National Football League by former players who suffered repeated concussions. The total number of players suing the league is approaching 3,000 and expected to rise.

"The NFL was aware of the risks of repeated head trauma and multiple concussive events, but nevertheless chose to deliberately ignore and conceal from the players and their families the risks of serious long-term health effects," said Craig Mitnick, an attorney representing over 900 players in the litigation, along with his co-counsel Gene Locks of Locks Law Firm.

The latest lawsuit alleges fraud and negligence against the NFL and accuses the league of hiding medical evidence about the risks of concussions and failing to warn players they risked permanent brain injury if they returned to play too soon after they had sustained a concussion.

The NFL had previously been ordered by the Federal Court to file its motion to dismiss all cases by August 9, 2012. That deadline has been extended until late August.

SOURCE Player Injury