LOS ANGELES (CN) - The widow of NFL safety Paul Oliver blames the league for her husband's suicide, which she and their sons witnessed, claiming it was the result of multiple concussions during his playing days.
Chelsea Oliver sued the NFL, the San Diego Chargers, the New Orleans Saints and several helmet-makers on Monday in Superior Court.
She claims that she and their two young sons saw her husband shoot himself in the head on Sept. 24, 2013 in their home in Marietta, Ga.
Oliver claims that her husband's "horrific and tragic death, along with the suffering decedent suffered prior to his death, was the direct result of the injuries, depression and emotional suffering caused by repetitive head trauma and concussions suffered as a result of playing football, not properly appreciating football's risks with respect to head trauma, and using/relying on various flawed and defective products to mitigate the risks he did appreciate."
She claims that her husband suffered from "undiagnosed, severe and debilitating brain injuries, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy ('CTE') as a result of head trauma and concussions he suffered while playing professional football for the San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints from 2007 through the 2011-2012 season."
Oliver seeks exemplary damages for fraud, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy, strict liability and other charges.
The helmet-maker defendants include Riddell Sports Corp. and Easton-Bell Sports.
The Oliver family is represented by Fabrice Vincent with Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, of San Francisco.
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