Seau Family Files Lawsuit

Posted by Victor Dela Casa

Wrongful death lawsuit filed against NFL

The National Football League can add another lawsuit to its growing list of lawsuits from former players suffering from concussion-related brain injuries. Junior Seau's family sued the league for wrongful death weeks after results of a report that confirmed suspicions that the future Hall of Fame inductee may have suffered a neurodegenerative brain disease as a result of two decades of repeated, often-undocumented concussions.

Seau, who spent most of his career in San Diego and Southern California, fatally shot himself in the chest last year. His death raised concerns over the effects of concussions on the well-being of the league's former players. This started a wave of lawsuits against the NFL.

The lawsuit filed in the San Diego County Superior Court alleges that the NFL, although well aware of the risks involved, deliberately concealed certain information from players while continually marketing the violent nature of the sport.

Seau apparently changed significantly over the last years of his life, making bad business decisions and being depressed and indifferent toward his family. His behavioral changes were allegedly an effect of the chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, that was only recently diagnosed by experts.

Sources indicate that his family is currently not claiming any financial compensation, but wants NFL to acknowledge fault, to care more for its former players and to make the sport safer. American football has recently faced a lot of heat. Nicknamed "America's Game," it is widely regarded as the most popular sport in the country.

This might change if ferocity of the game is toned down for safety reasons. Some players are now trying out newly developed Kevlar linings designed to minimize impacts in their helmets. They hope that new technology will help salvage the sport's damaged reputation.

Concussions could possibly cause serious brain injury. These injuries can have lasting effects on people and death may even be the result. Depending on the outcome of these types of lawsuits, the NFL could find itself increasingly liable for the financial consequences of these injuries to players.

Written by Vee Dela Casa for the Law Offices of Lee Arter, February 4, 2013. For the U.S. published version, click here)

About The Author

Victor Dela Casa is a Filipino-Canadian who spent over a decade working as a business professional in Canada. Worked in IT, finance, marketing, international trade, public service, project management and the maritime industry. Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines and Honours Diploma from Eastern College. Currently based in the Philippines and working as a professional writer for a multi-national business processes firm.