*A $760 million proposal to settle a lawsuit brought by former professional football players is not sitting well with the family of former San Diego Chargers player Junior Seau.
Reuters reports that Seau’s family objected to the settlement, saying it fell short by not treating people with wrongful-death claims differently from those who had simply been injured. Earlier this month, the deal was rejected by federal judge Anita Brody, who stated it did not set aside enough money for the thousands of players who filed the lawsuit.
Up to to $5 million would be set aside for each former player diagnosed with a certain brain condition resulting from years of repeated hits to the head in NFL games and practices, per the proposed settlement. Attorneys for the Seau family dispute settlement, saying that a minimal payment totaling a few thousand dollars would be offered to family members of retired or deceased NFL players through the proposed settlement.
The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. district court in Philadelphia, includes some 4,500 former players as plaintiffs. Up to 20,000 players could ultimately be eligible for payment.
Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler, died in 2012 after shooting himself in the chest. A study of the athlete’s brain found that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a debilitating brain condition caused by repeated hits to the head that can lead to aggression and dementia.
Seau is among a handful of current or former NFL players that have committed suicide in recent years. Although their deaths could not be directly connected to football, violent or erratic behavior is consistent with symptoms of CTE.
Regarding the concussion lawsuit, the Seau family attorneys argued that any eventual settlement must take into account the needs of the survivors of players who died as a result of injuries sustained during play.
“Mr. Seau’s children have their own claims for the wrong the NFL did to them. His children are not suing for their father’s pain and suffering, they are suing for their own,” the attorneys wrote.
Brody’s rejection of the settlement offer has since caused legal experts to say that the league and plaintiffs would likely have to negotiate a higher settlement amount in an effort to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet the needs of former players with brain injuries.
In light of this, the Seau family attorneys asked Brody to take their objections into consideration in evaluating future settlement proposals.
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