As concussions continue to be a hot-button topic in the world of sports (as has been written on several times in Sports and Entertainment Insider), the Canadian Football League (“CFL”) awaits decision in the CFL’s iteration of this ongoing battle.
Arland Bruce, a former wide receiver and veteran of five different CFL teams filed suit in 2014 which is believed to be the first of its kind brought in the CFL. The lawsuit maintained that in September 2012 he sustained a concussion but was inappropriately cleared first to return a playoff game seven weeks later and second to return to regular season activity in the following year. Bruce alleged that he was misled about the potential long-term effects of concussions and now suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (known as “CTE”) and other psychological symptoms. The suit was levied against the nine teams comprising the CFL along with other parties, including the director of the Canadian Sports Concussion Project, the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, the commissioner of the CFL, and the executive director of the CFL Alumni Association.
The CFL moved to dismiss based on jurisdictional grounds, citing a collective bargaining agreement maintaining that the matter needed to go through arbitration. The judge has reserved decision on this issue.
For more see: CFL: Receiver Arland Bruce Files Suit Against CFL Over Concussion (July 17, 2014) and B.C. Judge Reserves Ruling in CFL Concussion Suit (June 4, 2015)