Lawyers for the NHL have "engaged in settlement negotiations" with attorneys for former players who "allege the league lied to them about the dangers of repeated head trauma and concussions," according to Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. It may "seem odd timing for the NHL to consider settling the case." On July 13, U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson "denied to certify the NHL concussion lawsuit as a class-action case," meaning that as many as 5,000 living NHL alumni "didn't automatically become plaintiffs." Now, former players will "have to pursue individual lawsuits against the NHL." A lawyer for one plaintiff said that 138 former players "have filed" suits against the league, and another 150 have "formally retained lawyers." Former NFL Counsel for Operations & Litigation Jodi Balsam said that it "makes sense for the NHL to talk settlement" after winning the class-action decision. Balsam: "It may be the best moment for the NHL to consider settling. If the NHL decides to go to trial on all these cases, they still have to go though further discovery and depositions, and then prepare to try hundreds of individual cases across the country. Maybe the NHL is spread thin doing that" (TSN.ca, 9/5).
