A federal judge gave her final approval on Wednesday to a multimillion-dollar settlement in a lawsuit brought by about 5,000 former National Football League players who accused the league of covering up the dangers of concussions.
The settlement, approved by Judge Anita Brody, includes allowing for monetary awards of up to $5 million per claimant for serious medical conditions associated with repeated head trauma and could cost the league $1 billion over 65 years.
"We look forward to implementing the terms of the settlement and continuing to work with our players, coaches and medical staffs to enhance the safety and benefits of football," NFL general counsel Jeff Pash said in a statement.
The NFL, with nearly $10 billion in annual revenues, is accused of covering up the dangers of concussions to keep the players on the field. The league and the players union estimate that 30 percent of former players will develop brain conditions like Alzheimer's or a less debilitating form of dementia.
"Despite the difficult health situations retired players face today, and that many more will unfortunately face in the future, they can take comfort that this settlement's benefits will be available soon, and will last for decades to come," co-lead counsels for the retired players, Christopher Seeger and Sol Weiss, said in a statement.
In February, Brody, who sits on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, refused to accept a proposed $765 million settlement between the league and the retired players, saying changes were needed before she would approve it. Both sides then reworked the deal.
In her 132-page opinion approving the settlement, Brody noted that the retired players would have faced significant hurdles if the case had gone to trial. Only about 200 players opted out of the proposed settlement.
"As a result of the settlement, retirees and their families will be eligible for prompt and substantial benefits and will avoid years of costly litigation that - as Judge Brody's comprehensive opinion makes clear - would have an uncertain prospect of success," Pash said.
If there are no appeals of the settlement, the flow of benefits could begin this summer.
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