The NHL announced Monday it has reached a tentative $18.9 million settlement with more than 300 ex-players over a lawsuit claiming the league didn’t do enough to protect players from concussions.
“The NHL does not acknowledge any liability for any of Plaintiffs’ claims in these cases,” a press release said. “However, the parties agree that the settlement is a fair and reasonable resolution and that it is in the parties’ respective best interests to receive the benefits of the settlement and to avoid the burden, risk and expense of further litigation.”
Ten former players first brought a class-action lawsuit against the league in 2013, which eventually became known as “In re: National Hockey League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said the litigation “doesn’t have merit” and that there is not yet a proven link between blows to the head and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
In 2013, the NFL paid out $765 million to ex-players to settle similar lawsuits brought against them. A dollar amount in the NHL’s case was not immediately available.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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