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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

More Former Players Sue NFL Over Brain Injuries

COLUMBIA, S.C. (CN) - Five former NFL players became the latest athletes to sue the league over what they say have been the pathological and debilitating effects of head injuries and concussions they experienced during their playing years.

The plaintiffs include Stephen Davis, formerly of he Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and St. Louis Rams; Corey Miller, of the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, Langston Moore, of the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions; Travis Williams of the Atlanta Falcons, and Henry Taylor, who played for the Lions, falcons, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins.

Like previous complaints filed by former players and their families, the plaintiffs in this case claim the National Football League knew "for many decades" of evidence that linked repetitive traumatic brain injury to long-term neurological problems.

Despite this knowledge, they say, the NFL "deliberately ignored and actively concealed the information from the plaintiffs and all others who participated in organized football on all levels."

"Moreover, in or around 1994 and possibly earlier, the NFL voluntarily inserted itself into the scientific research and discussion concerning the relationship between concussions and short-term and long-term impairment of the brain," they say/ "After doing so, the NFL then intentionally and fraudulently mislead present and former players, and all people who reasonably rely upon the NFL's expertise about its own sport, regarding short-term and long-tern risks posed by concussions and head trauma."

"Rather than warn players that they risked permanent brain injury if they returned to play too soon after sustaining a concussion, the NFL actively deceived players, by misrepresenting to them that concussions did not present serious, life-altering risks."

Each of the players say had they known of the severe risks they were running, they could have taken steps to protect themselves. Instead, they say, they and other players have suffered brain damage and latent neurodegenerative disorders and diseases.

They seek compensatory and punitive damages on claims of negligence, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy and loss of consortium.

They are represented by J. Preston Strom, Jr. of Columbia, S.C.

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