Family of Deceased NFL Player Files Brain Injury Lawsuit

Chicago, ILLess than a week after 11 former football players filed a lawsuit against the National Football League (NFL), the family of the late Dave Duerson has filed a brain injury lawsuit alleging the NFL did not do enough to prevent the brain injury that eventually caused Duerson to take his own life in February of last year.

Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc. was also named in the lawsuit, which was filed February 23 and brought on behalf of Tregg Duerson and three other children.

The NFL has been besieged of late over concern surrounding brain trauma that stems from multiple concussions inherent with the game of football. Critics of the league cite past instances where players were allowed back into the game soon after exhibiting concussion-like symptoms. Post-career, a number of former NFL players have experienced brain injury that has led to other health issues and sometimes death.

The Duerson brain injury lawsuit is a wrongful death lawsuit. Tregg Duerson spoke at a press conference when the action was filed…

"If (the NFL) knowingly failed to inform and implement proper safety concussion procedures, then their indifference was the epitome of injustice," Tregg Duerson said at the news conference "The inactions of the past inevitably led to the demise and death of my father."

The Duerson family's legal team accuses the NFL of "dropping the ball" when it comes to concussions. The NFL is accused of maintaining and promoting a position of no connection between playing the game of football, and receiving concussions and brain damage, according to a brain injury lawyer.

The Associated Press (AP) reported February 23 that the NFL had yet to see the lawsuit, however, the league did issue a statement.

"Dave Duerson was an outstanding football player and citizen who made so many positive contributions but unfortunately encountered serious personal challenges later in his life," the NFL said. "We sympathize with the Duerson family and continue to be saddened by this tragedy."

The plaintiffs in the Duerson brain injury lawsuit claimed that Duerson had suffered a minimum of 10 concussions throughout the course of his NFL career, losing consciousness as the result of some of those injuries.

An inspection of Duerson's brain by researchers at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University's School of Medicine noted that Duerson's brain exhibited "moderately advanced" brain trauma and CTE related to blows to the head.

Tregg Duerson said in his press conference announcing the brain injury lawsuit that his father's mannerisms started to change and deterioration commenced about 10 years before Duerson's death at the age of 50. He played 11 seasons in the NFL and earned two Super Bowl rings before retiring in 1993.