Judge Not Satisfied with NFL Concussion Settlement with Former Players

A federal judge in Philadelphia denied preliminary approval of a $765 million settlement of NFL concussion claims, fearing it may not be enough to cover 20,000 retired players. U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody asked for more financial information from the parties, a week after players’ lawyers filed a detailed payout plan for her review. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the league’s $765 million concussion settlement in September, but a judge denied preliminary approval of the plan Tuesday. “I am primarily concerned that not all retired NFL football players who ultimately receive a qualifying diagnosis or their (families) … will be paid,” Judge Brody wrote in a 12-page opinion. The proposed settlement, negotiated over several months, is designed to last at least 65 years. The awards would vary based on an ex-player’s age and diagnosis. A younger retiree with Lou Gehrig’s disease would get $5 million, those with serious dementia would get $3 million, and an 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000.