Former Players Appeal $1 Billion NFL Concussion Settlement Before Panel Of Judges In Philadelphia
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A team of attorneys for former NFL players lined up against their counterparts from the league in a showdown before a Federal Appeals Court panel in Philadelphia on the NFL's potential $1 billion concussion settlement.
Representing former players appealing the settlement approved by a federal judge in Philadelphia, attorney Steven Molo says it unfairly favors currently injured retired players, but not those yet to be diagnosed with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated concussive blows.
"What we would like happen is the case go back to Judge Brody, and deal with the issues concerning CTE and future claims for CTE," said Molo.
Former NFL player Shawn Wooden, a native of Philadelphia who went to Notre Dame and played for the Miami Dolphins, is asymptomatic. He has no evidence of the disease and represents the class of players in favor of the concussion settlement.
"Hopefully we'll be able to get this over the goal line for some of the guys that need it," said Wooden.
It provides about $4 million to players who suffer from serious medical issues associated with repeated head trauma.
The settlement, which could affect more than 20,000 retired NFL players, would resolve lawsuits claiming that the NFL hid the risks of returning players to the field after suffering a concussion.
Supporters say 99 percent of retired players endorsed it, but opponents say the settlement does not include future payments for those diagnosed with CTE, which they say is the signature disease of football.
A former NFL player who showed up with a protest sign didn't want to tell us his full name.
"Players are going to die with CTE, and they won't be compensated - their families won't - how do you compensate the dead, anyway?"
One lawyer also pointed out of the 5,200 who filed suit, 4,900 show no symptoms, but they are representing by 300 sets of lawyers.