[News] Ten former Players sue NHL over concussions

[Resolute 14]

One of the ambulance chasers looking to profit from this (in short: he's the lawyer, not a player) is a former NFL player. He's been spamming Twitter all day with links for his blog.

It is really interesting that said blog speaks about the new rules post 2005, yet all the suing players were gone a decade or later before that.

So far it looks like they are just throwing a million different things at the wall and hoping something sticks. Not a bad strategy, albeit typically scummy lawyer behaviour.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Everybody is paying proper attention to head trauma..

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

There's a reason today that anytime someone gets hit in the head or may have suffered a concussion they are brought into the dark room and made to do tests.

Well, they should. However, when you look at the bench, it's not really done as often as it probably should. And if someone gets into a fight, they go to the penalty box.

Don't get me wrong, it's gotten better. But a lot can still be done.

[Tinordi]

This is only the beginning.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

This is only the beginning.

Agreed. Greedy lawyers are going to milk this for all they can.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by troutman

The players point out in their claim that the NHL has refused to ban fighting while team rosters often include “enforcers” whose main function is to fight.

Insurers will eventually force the NHL to eliminate fighting. I don't know how they can reduce head injuries from body checks. That's much harder to deal with.

Wouldn't it make more sense for the former players and insurers to complain about hitting being allowed in the game. Hitting causes a lot more concussions than fighting does.

[killer_carlson]

Pretty inflammatory drafting of the pleadings. You don't see that happen very often in Canada (or Alberta at least). Some samples:

Paragraph 126 - ok
"126. The NHL knew or should have known that the change from flexible to rigid glass would have an adverse impact on its players"
(allegations made as a statement of fact, to be proven)

Paragraph 130 :
"Why the NHL changed the glass and sped up the game at the same time it was purportedly reviewing brain injuries is similarly difficult to comprehend"
(argument, not facts. Argument belong in a courtroom or legal brief, not in pleadings)

Para 132 :
"As a direct result of the fraudulent concealment by the NHL, former players have for many decades been led to believe that the symptoms of early-onset dementia, ALS, loss of memory, headaches, confusion and the inability to function were not caused by events occurring while they played in the NHL. And as a result of this willful and malicious conduct, these former players have been deprived of medical treatment, incurred expenses, lost employment, suffered humiliation and other damages"
(fraud - that the NHL knew and knowingly gave information they knew to be false to the players)

Apologies to Mr. Cox, Vaive and Leeman, but I'm siding with the owners on this. I do not believe that Harley Hotchkiss, Norm Kwong, Ralph and Sonia Scurfield et al would knowingly hide information that would have hurt players.

If you want to debate the issue of headshots in hockey, then lets debate it. If you want to debate if more can be done on concussions and to treat post concussion symptoms, then lets debate it. But my interest is lost rather quickly when the allegations go past reasonable, questionable, and head straight to the absurd.

I'm sure we can all settle in for hordes of rhetoric to come from Plaintiff representatives over the next few years on this. Sadly, that will take the focus off of what is otherwise a very important debate.

[MissTeeks]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6...d=nhl:topheads

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly issued the following statement today regarding a class action lawsuit filed today in federal court in Washington:
"We are aware of the class action lawsuit filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of a group of former NHL Players. While the subject matter is very serious, we are completely satisfied with the responsible manner in which the League and the Players' Association have managed Player safety over time, including with respect to head injuries and concussions. We intend to defend the case vigorously and have no further comment at this time."

[killer_carlson]

nm

[Calgary4LIfe]

This will be really interesting to follow.

I know that definitely before the 2000's, there were players who were rushed back on the ice after sustaining a major blow to the head. Remember Kariya in the playoffs? He should never have been allowed back in that game. Stuff like that happened all the time, and players just had to 'shake the cobwebs off' after getting their bell rung. It was 'fine' during that time.

However, did medical science know this was crippling them? I don't know if they did really, as it seems that all the concussion news really started coming out in the last 10 years.

What I think might come to haunt the NHL a little bit, is their efforts to increase the speed of the game by removing the clutching and grabbing, and throwing out the 2-line pass. Players started moving much faster now because they were less obstructed by other players, and they didn't have to slow-up or wait between lines as much. The NHL didn't start addressing intentional hits to the head as the principal form of contact until a few years later.

I don't know how this will play out. I don't think anyone really does. It may look like some 'cash grab' by a few guys, but remember there were many players careers derailed by concussions, and some players managed to find work overseas.

Remember Daniel Tkaczuk. He was a pretty good prospect for the Flames, right up until he got his bell run hard. That ruined his NHL career (2000), but he still played hockey right through until 2011 in Europe and in the AHL.

Waivers that players signed (if any) will be brought forth, old trainers and coaches will probably be subpoenaed for proof of their eagerness to rush players back in the lineup, etc. This will probably take a very long time, but I doubt this is just a 'cash grab' by some old players.

[Corral]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Everybody is paying proper attention to head trauma. It is a contact sport and every player knows it. I think the NHL needs to put something in players contracts that states that by signing this contract you understand the risks involved in playing professional hockey and that you waive all rights to sue over injury or something to that effect. The only other solution is to make the NHL a non-contact sport.

Proper attention to head trauma in the NHL? Are you kidding me. You come across as an idiot with this sort of post. I'm sure if someone you cared for had suffered from this - you'd be speaking a different tune.

[nfotiu]

It sure is going to be tough for the nhl to argue that they are doing all they can to prevent concussions while continuing to allow fighting. I don't see the fighting makes the game safer playing too well in court.

[rubecube]

I'm just going to leave this here.

http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Stories.aspx?pd=5786

[Corral]

The absence of notable names isn't a surprise nor is it relevant. It will be a class action lawsuit - they can join later. For now it is best to keep the former stars out of this. Imagine the headlines otherwise - and the medial and internet circus to follow. Make no mistake Lindros, Savard et al are backstopping this - hoping the threat will lead to real settlement negotiations with the league. No doubt this will hang over the league for years.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Corral

The absence of notable names isn't a surprise nor is it relevant. It will be a class action lawsuit - they can join later. For now it is best to keep the former stars out of this. Imagine the headlines otherwise - and the medial and internet circus to follow. Make no mistake Lindros, Savard et al are backstopping this - hoping the threat will lead to real settlement negotiations with the league. No doubt this will hang over the league for years.

"make no mistake" is a funny phrase to use when you follow it with your own imagined guess at what could possibly be the case, which incidentally cannot be substantiated in any way.

This doesn't look like much of a big deal at all.

[Poe969]

I might join this too. I've been banging my head against the wall watching the Flames for the past few years and I've suffered a concussion. I want some money too!

[カナダ人です]

I wonder if they are going to sue the AHL, ECHL, C(entral)HL, etc, as well, considering those are also professional hockey leagues these players played in?

[Corral]

Originally Posted by strombad

"make no mistake" is a funny phrase to use when you follow it with your own imagined guess at what could possibly be the case, which incidentally cannot be substantiated in any way.

This doesn't look like much of a big deal at all.

with that kind of advice to the owners and all others who profit from the game, good thing you aren't the NHL Commissioner

[trackercowe]

I bet Landsberg is jumping for joy, he's been calling for this for years now. Now he has another topic to beat into the ground for the next year.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

This is only the beginning.

This.

This is going to evolve in to an enormous lawsuit. Precedence was the NFL.

Fighting is going to be scrutinized like its never been before. I fear it being abolished as part of the NHL's settlement.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Corral

with that kind of advice to the owners and all others who profit from the game, good thing you aren't the NHL Commissioner

You're right, I'm a hockey fan, who are you pretending to be?