NFL properties and the NFL reached a settlement agreement with retired NFL players and related parties. The class action lawsuit brought forth by retired players of the NFL who accused the NFL of failing to warn players about the risk of brain injury as well as hiding brain damage from the players. The Pennsylvania Eastern District Court approved the settlement with a final order and judgment on April 22, 2015. Those who may be eligible for settlement benefits are retired NFL players and the families and legal representatives of deceased or incapacitated players. Contact us today if you are a former NFL player to find out how you can maximize your compensation.

Three benefits are included in the settlement proposal, which are:

• A baseline medical examination for retired players.
• Football safety initiatives and educational programs.
• Monetary awards for claim members who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, also called Lou Gehrig's disease, and CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that is diagnosed after death.

The NFL recently agreed to lift a $675 million cap on damage payouts for thousands of former players who claimed their careers in the league led to long term brain injuries. The judge in the case expressed concern that the $675 million set aside for such claims was not high enough to settle the claims of more than 20,000 former players.

The new agreement, filed in a Philadelphia federal court, also ended a caveat that prevented players who received a settlement from the NFL from filing a case against the NCAA or other amateur sports organizations.

The revamped settlement is expected to last almost 65 years and will provide compensation for former players diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), dementia, or other brain-related injuries that are determined to be related to concussions players endured during their time in the league.

Over 4,500 ex NFL players filed complaints, many asserting the NFL committed fraud in the way it dealt with concussions. Two prominent ex-players alleging fraud include Tony Dorsett, a former Dallas Cowboy running back, and Jim McMahon, a former quarterback for the Chicago Bears, who has been diagnosed with dementia.

Under the original $675 million agreement, $75 million was earmarked for diagnostic testing, $10 million for education and research, and $112 to players' attorney fees. While the new settlement ends the damages cap, a formula for payouts based on a player's age and severity of illness is included. A younger retired player with ALS would get $5 million, a player aged 50 with Alzheimer's would receive $1.5 million, and an 80-year-old with symptoms of dementia would receive a $25,000 payout. The new proposal does not include active players and does not include language that the NFL misled players about the dangers of suffering multiple head injuries.

District Judge Anita Brody still must rule on whether or not to approve the new proposal. A petition by seven players who claim the new agreement will leave them uncompensated for a variety of neurological illnesses is still outstanding. Those opposing the new agreement believe the NFL, with revenue of almost $10 billion, is being let off the hook too easily. Proponents say the agreement will help ex-players avoid long, costly legal proceedings.

At the Kyros Law Group, we have the experience to get you the compensation you deserve. We were one of the first firms involved in the NFL Concussion lawsuit, and are a leader in pro sports injury litigation. With over 10 years of experience in personal injury litigation, we've helped collect hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements for people just like you. We also understand that time is of the essence, and if you have a claim, we will start investigating your case immediately. We know how bills can pile up, and that's why we strive to get you the compensation you deserve as fast as possible.