January 11, 2019 Class Actions / Concussions / NFL

Concussion Suit Brought by Former Chiefs Player’s Ex-Wife Dismissed

A suit brought by a former Chiefs player’s ex-wife has been dismissed in Pennsylvania federal court. U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody ruled that the plaintiff, Anita Martin,could not pursue her claims alleging that the concussions sustained by her former husband, Christopher Martin, hurt their relationship.

Judge Brody explained that Ms. Martin failed to opt-out of an uncapped, multi-district settlement that the NFL had reached with roughly 5,000 players back in 2015. The settlement concluded allegations that the players sustained concussions and degenerative brain diseases …

July 14, 2016 Litigation / NFL

Federal Judge Refuses Chiefs Players’ Request

On December 3, 2013, a group of five former Kansas City Chiefs football players filed a workers’ compensation lawsuit against the Chiefs. The uniqueness about this lawsuit stems from the fact that this is one of the first cases suing a specific National Football League. The case parallels many claims made in the suit brought against the NFL; however, it questions “whether concussion-related cases should be heard by an arbitrator under the auspices of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.” These players chose to sue only …

January 27, 2016 Concussions / Litigation

Former KC Footballers Again Ask Court to Separate Claims

On Monday, January 25, 2016, a group of ex-Kansas City Chiefs renewed their remand bid seeking to get out of Pennsylvania federal court and back to a Missouri venue. The move comes as no surprise, as the players originally sought a transfer out of the multidistrict litigation concussion suit plaguing the NFL nearly two years ago.

In the renewed motion, the players bring focus as to why Missouri state court is a more appropriate forum, arguing that their claims are predicated entirely on state …

December 4, 2013 Concussions / Litigation / NFL

Ex-Players Sue Kansas City Chiefs Over Concussions

The Kansas City Chiefs are the latest target of concussion litigation. On December 3, 2013, five former members of the NFL team sued for damages related to head injuries.

The case was filed in a Missouri state court on Tuesday by Alexander Cooper, Joseph Phillips, Kevin Porter, Leonard Griffin, and Christopher Martin. It is the first concussion lawsuit filed against an NFL team, rather than the league.

The players allege similar complaints to those in the suit settled earlier this year. They are suing on …