NHL Opposing Additional Concussion Claims By Players' Spouses, Next Of Kin

The NHL is "opposing an attempt by former players to file claims on behalf of the wives and next of kin of brain-damaged players," according to Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. Lawyers for the players, who are "suing the NHL over its handling of concussions, served notice last month that they intend to seek this additional compensation from the league." A group of more than 100 former players in November '13 "filed a lawsuit charging that the NHL did not do enough to protect them from head injuries." The NHL wrote that the plaintiffs’ lawyers in previous court documents "alleged that former NHL player Steve Ludzik’s wife is entitled to damages." Ludzik "suffers from Parkinson’s disease and is one of the players suing the NHL." But the league said, "Because none of the named plaintiffs has suffered a wrongful death, survival or loss of consortium, these claims must be dismissed" (TSN.ca, 2/11).