10 Former Players File Concussion Lawsuit Against NHL

On Monday afternoon the Associated Press was the first to report that 10 former players filed suit against the NHL in a Washington, D.C. federal court. The players are seeking unspecified damages and “court-approved medical monitoring for the brain trauma and/or injuries.”

The 10 plaintiffs are: Bradley Aitken, Darren Banks, Curt Bennett, Richard Dunn, Warren Holmes, Robert Manno, Blair James Stewart, Morris Titanic and Richard Vaive.

The suit alleges the NHL purposefully concealed the potential risk of repeated brain injuries, routinely exposing them to excessive danger and, therefore, are responsible for their long-term health problems. As well as the cost associated with treating them.

Bolstering their claims is the league’s refusal to outright ban fighting on the ice. The ever-present possibility of a game being temporarily halted while two players beat the hell out of each other makes it necessary for teams to “protect” their stars.

That protection comes in the form of “enforcers,” marginally talented goons earning a paycheck with their fists. The problem with this ridiculous system is that it fails to protect skill players because vigilante justice doesn’t prevent crime, it gets revenge for it.

So not only does the enforcer policy fail to protect the game’s most valuable assets: Star players. It also lowers the overall quality of play on the ice, because goons take up roster space that could be filled with more promising talent.

The filing comes just three months after the NFL settled a class action suit brought by thousands of former players. The $765 million payout that was eventually agreed upon is unlikely to be the final word on the issue, but has temporary shelved the litigation.

It looks like it’s only beginning for the NHL.