A judge has approved the National Football League's $765 million settlement offer in the suit brought against the league by 5,000 ex-players who suffered head injuries as the result of the sport, The New York Times reports.
In a 132-page ruling, Judge Anita B. Brody declared the settlement “fair, reasonable and adequate.” The negotiations lasted almost two years.
The NFL will be required to pay up to $5 million to players who suffered a debilitating neurological disorder, and it will also be obligated to cover medical inspections of all retired players to determine whether they qualify for a payout and spend $10 million on concussion education, according to NYT.
Some critics of the ruling, however, argue that the settlement concentrates on too few diseases, and that the money does not compensate for lost future earnings that many players were not able to earn because of their injuries.
Plaintiffs have the option to appeal, but doing so would result in extensive time in court and costly litigation fees. Otherwise, players are entitled to benefits as soon as this summer.
Since the settlement and provision mandating medical monitoring of former players have no cap, the NFL could end up spending close to $1 billion on these expenses.
“Today’s decision powerfully underscores the fairness and propriety of this historic settlement,” Jeff Pash, the NFL’s general counsel, told Bloomberg Businessweek. “Retirees and their families will be eligible for prompt and substantial benefits and will avoid years of costly litigation.”
The National Hockey League currently faces similar claims.
