NFL Faces Lawsuit From 10 Ex-Players Over Disability Benefits Plan

Summary

• NFL faces new disability benefits lawsuit from 10 players
• The lawsuit has the potential to turn into a class action lawsuit
• NFL and NFLPA are yet to respond to the lawsuit

The NFL is currently focused on Super Bowl LVII which will take place on Feb 12 at the State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will battle it out on Super Bowl Sunday to see who will win Super Bowl LVII!

The NFL has been hit with another lawsuit over claims that their disability benefits plan breaches federal law.

NFL Faces Potential Class Action Lawsuit

As of now, 10 players have come together to file a lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the League’s Disability Board. The lawsuit was filed in Baltimore in Federal Court as it claims the NFL has deliberately denied paying out disability benefits to its retired players, thereby breaching federal law.

The 10 players that have put their names down on the lawsuit include Willis McGahee (11 seasons), Eric Smith (7 seasons), Michael McKenzie (11 seasons), Jason Alford (3 seasons), Jamize Olaware (8 seasons), Daniel Loper (5 seasons), Joey Thomas (3 seasons), Charles Sims (4 seasons), Lance Zeno (2 seasons) and Alex Parsons (1 season).

They have hired Chris Seeger to represent them as Seeger has extensive experience with such cases. Seeger was involved in the class counsel lawsuit against the NFL over concussion claims which resulted in a $1 billion payment.

In a statement, Seeger said

They’re a small fraction of the players who have been wronged by the NFL’s disability plan. These former players deserve far more from an organization worth billions of dollars than a sham process in which there’s no chance of success.

NFL Accused Of Dodging Responsibility

The players involved in the lawsuit claim that they find it difficult to get out of bed and perform normal activities due to the extent of their injuries incurred during their time in the NFL.

They need to get vetted by doctors to qualify for the NFL’s disability benefits plan but allege that these doctors have benefit financially when they deny a player from claiming disability benefits from the NFL as they get more referrals from the NFL.

The lawsuit claims that one neuropsychologist reviewed 29 ex-NFL players and found none of them eligible for disability benefits and in return pocketed $800,000.

The NFL and NFL Players Association are yet to respond to the lawsuit.