October 21, 2019 Class Actions / Concussions / Hockey / Litigation / NHL

Federal Judge Dismisses Two Ex-NHL Players’ Concussion Lawsuits

A Minnesota federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the NHL by two former players, finding that the court lacks jurisdiction over the suit.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson dismissed two lawsuits, filed by Andre Deveaux and Todd Harvey, without prejudice. Judge Nelson reasoned that the players lacked a connection to Minnesota for jurisdiction. Deveaux and Harvey never played for a Minnesota hockey team, nor did they present enough evidence linking them to the state.

As we previously reported, Judge Nelson oversaw a …

July 30, 2018 Class Actions / Concussions / Litigation / NHL

Former NHL Players Will Not Appeal

Michael Cashman, a Minnesota lawyer representing former NHL players who filed lawsuits against the NHL, said that the former NHL players would not appeal United States District Judge Susan Richard Nelson’s decision. As we have recently covered, Judge Nelson declined to certify a class of thousands of former NHL players who sued the NHL. The player claimed that the league failed to inform them of the health risks caused by concussions and head-related trauma, even though the league had knowledge of such information. Judge …

October 2, 2017 Litigation / NHL

Parents of Late NHL Player Derek Boogaard Request Revival of Wrongful Death Suit

On Monday, September 25, 2017, the parents of the late NHL player Derek Boogaard appealed to the Seventh Circuit, asking the court to revive their wrongful death lawsuit against the NHL. On appeal, the Boogaards claim the district court incorrectly applied Minnesota state law to the case.

Derek Boogaard played in the NHL for six years and participated in 66 fights, with one of his final fights causing him a severe concussion. The Boogaards allege in their original suit that their son’s death stemmed from …

January 12, 2017 Concussions / NHL

Former NHL Players Bringing Concussion Suit Ask Court to Unseal Concussion Class Certification Docs

Several former NHL players brought a concussion suit against the National Hockey League in 2013 based on allegations that they have all experienced long-term neurological issues as a direct result of concussions sustained while playing for the league; a suit precipitated by a settlement between the NFL and thousands of former players over similar allegations. The players claim the league neglected to provide adequate protection and information re concussion dangers and the possible repercussions. One of the players’ experts opined that the average NHL player …

July 7, 2016 Fantasy Sports / NHL

Minnesota Wild Seek Sanctions for Daily Fantasy Company Looking to Skate Sponsorship Agreement

As previously thought, the NHL’s Minnesota Wild are formally seeking sanctions against fantasy sports operator Draft Ops, owned by Emil Interactive Games LLC. On July 6, 2016, the Wild asked a Minnesota federal court to sanction Emil Interactive for attempting to escape the $1.1 million they owe as part of a sponsorship deal with the Wild and their Arena, the Xcel Energy Center.

Initially, the Wild sued Emil Interactive for breach of contract after the parties agreed the daily fantasy sports company would be …

June 28, 2016 Fantasy Sports / NHL

Minnesota Wild Claims DFS Company’s Bid for Dismissal in Sponsorship Dispute was Made in Bad Faith

On June 22, 2016 the next step in an extended and contentious legal battle between the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild and Draft Ops fantasy sports was filed in a Minnesota federal court. On Wednesday, the Minnesota Wild filed a Response in Opposition to Draft Op’s Motion to Dismiss, asking a federal judge not to dismiss their complaint. Previously, Emil Interactive Games, which operates Draft Ops fantasy sports, asked the court to dismiss the Minnesota Wild’s breach of contract claims over a sponsorship agreement …

April 20, 2016 Concussions / NHL

Can a Doctor Diagnose CTE in Living NHL Players?

On April 12, 2016, the National Hockey League requested that a Minnesota federal judge require a doctor to disclose his examination process, as it would be the first time a doctor would diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a living patient. This argument stems from debate over class certification in the former NHL player’s class action lawsuit against the NHL.

The former players of the NHL took a leaf out of the National Football League’s playbook and filed independent lawsuits against the NHL for failing …

February 17, 2016 Concussions / Litigation / NHL

NHL Again Seeks Dismissal of Former Players’ Spouses’ Claims

Last week, the NHL filed a new memorandum in support of its motion to dismiss the wrongful death and loss of consortium claims brought by the spouses of ex-players in December 2015. These claims were tacked on to the players’ master amended complaint at the end of last year, which was filed in the MDL case in Minnesota, to deal with issues of concussions and other head-related injuries, as well as the long-term effects players’ suffered over their careers.

The NHL had supplemented its pending …

January 28, 2016 Litigation / NHL

NHL Reiterates Federal Labor Law Preemption, Argues to Toss Latest Claims of Victims’ Families

On Friday, January 22, 2016, the National Hockey League filed a brief in Minnesota federal court in an attempt to weaken the multidistrict litigation concussion lawsuit against it. In particular, the NHL is seeking the removal of claims filed on behalf of the spouses and families of injured players, arguing federal labor law preempts their loss of consortium and wrongful death actions. In filing the brief, the NHL hopes to dismiss the concussion suit altogether by continuing to reiterate their argument that the suit does …

December 1, 2015 Concussions / NHL

NHL Concussion Lawsuit: NHL Seeks Discovery from Canadian Doctors

The NHL has filed a new discovery motion in the concussion lawsuit, which was brought by former players and consolidated in Minnesota as a multidistrict litigation in August 2014. The motion, filed on November 25, 2015, asks the court to seek help from the Ontario Superior Court in order to compel certain Canadian doctors to disclose documents.

The 100-plus plaintiff players claim that the NHL failed to ensure player safety. It is alleged that the league failed to ensure players’ full recoveries following head injuries …