The NFL may be dealing with the issue of concussion lawsuits for the rest of it’s existence and today, a huge step was made in the direction of resolution for some of the former players. A federal judge, approved the idea of a 65-year payment plan that will facilitate enough funds to payout to the retired players suffering from a variety of ailments ranging from concussions PTSD to Alzheimer’s.
The NFL expects 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia someday. The settlement approved Wednesday by a federal judge in Philadelphia would pay them about $190,000 on average.
The awards could reach $1 million to $5 million for those diagnosed in their 30s and 40s with Parkinson’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, or for deaths involving chronic brain trauma.
The NFL is just tipping the ice-berg with the amount of former players turned plaintiffs, but at the end of the day, they are still a billion dollar industry who can afford to go to their “war-chest” on a payment plan to supplement care for the former lifeblood of their organization.
h/t Associated Press