NFL To Argue For Dismissal As Concussion Lawsuits Get Day In Court

U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody today in Philadelphia will hear arguments from NFL lawyers pleading to dismiss the consolidated concussion lawsuits brought by more than 4,200 former players. The league contends the case "does not belong in court because player grievances have long been covered" by the CBA. The arguments "will last less than an hour." Brody is "unlikely to rule for weeks, if not months, and her judgment will almost certainly be appealed" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/7). The suit seeks monetary damages and an "NFL-funded, court-supervised medical monitoring system" (USA TODAY, 4/8).

The N.Y. TIMES' Ken Belson noted the league "has a good track record arguing that claims brought by former players should be thrown out of court." But this case "has several wrinkles because some plaintiffs played when there was no collective bargaining agreement and because the cases claim fraud and misrepresentation, which go beyond the scope of a labor agreement" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/8).