Junior Seau’s family to sue NFL in wrongful death lawsuit

Junior Seau (AP)

Junior Seau‘s family is suing the NFL on the grounds that the former linebacker’s suicide was the result of a brain disease he developed after multiple concussions while playing in the NFL.

The wrongful death lawsuit says that Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy after numerous blows to the head that weren’t treated correctly. It also accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with brain trauma.

Seau was diagnosed earlier this month with CTE after his death of a self-inflicted gunshot in May.

“We were saddened to learn that Junior, a loving father and teammate, suffered from CTE,” the Seau family said in a statement released to The Associated Press. “While Junior always expected to have aches and pains from his playing days, none of us ever fathomed that he would suffer a debilitating brain disease that would cause him to leave us too soon.

“We know this lawsuit will not bring back Junior. But it will send a message that the NFL needs to care for its former players, acknowledge its decades of deception on the issue of head injuries and player safety, and make the game safer for future generations.”

The Seaus are also suing helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., saying they were “negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets.”

A November Associated Press review found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the issue of concussions causing mental illness in players has come to the forefront. The plaintiffs in this latest case are listed as Gina Seau, Junior’s ex-wife; Junior’s children Tyler, Sydney, Jake and Hunter, and Bette Hoffman, trustee of Seau’s estate.

10 Comments for “Junior Seau’s family to sue NFL in wrongful death lawsuit”

1. Mike Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 2:38 pm

   Ridiculous. Nobody forced him to play. He knew it was a physical game and that injuries were part of it.

2. ILoveHockey Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 2:41 pm

   I normally am against the “sue crazy” envirment we live in, but this is something that has the potental to open peoples eyes, it is a high profile person and a hot topic in all contact sports.

   That being said, as much as the NFL is to blame- these players are also partially to blame, they willingly put themselves in these situations, there has to be some blame put on the players/ players union as well

3. hlbouley Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 2:45 pm

   I suppose part of the the NFL defense will be that the NFL was not designed for 20 year careers and players should know when to quit as it is not up to the NFL to tell players when to stop playing as long as there is a team willing to pay them. Obviously denial of employment by the NFL would likely lead to legal action.

4. jj Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 3:56 pm

   And yet Goodell lets Pollard roam free and intentionally hit players knees and helmet to helmet and not give a **** cause all he gets is a flag thrown at him. Pollard doesnt realize that ANY NFL player can cheap shot.

   How about suspending him Goodell?

5. capecodder Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 4:11 pm

   Ridiculous….surely there is some blame, but eyes are wide open going in…..perhaps all players should be forced to sign waivers

6. Dpalm mane Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 5:18 pm

   o give me a fu***** break, everybody sue everyone, its seau’s fault he got the concussion, what is someone going to do next sue a pop warner league? this is absolutely insane, they know what they are getting into when joining the big time, ITS FOOTBALLLLLLLLLLLLLL EXPECT TO GET HURT AT ANY TIME

7. Derek Lee Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 5:55 pm

   Today I’m suing the NFL. Tomorrow I’m suing Mcdonalds cause my arterys are clogged. It’s their fault that I’m forced into ordering three number ones. Next week i’ll get Twin Rivers for my gambling problem.

8. scottie2 Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 6:01 pm

   Nope, the lawsuit will not bring Junior back. But reeling in a multi-million-dollar award will sure ease the pain, right folks? Always about the money…

9. StL Red Sox Fan Says:
   January 23rd, 2013 at 6:32 pm

   Response to Mike

   That’s a fair expectation when playing in the NFL. Brain disease. Please think before speaking or commenting.

10. Doug aka Uncle Buck Says:
    January 23rd, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Mixed feelings on this. I am usually dead set against frivolous litigation which seems to dominate a large part of society. I can understand the frustration, hurt and anger with the Seau family. After all there is nothing frivolous about a suicide based on brain damage. However, I know for a fact that the player contracts include liability disclaimers stating the “employees exposure to injury” which greatly limit the league and team liability. That’s not to say there could be a settlement or a payout from an insurance company. But I don’t think the family is after money in this, I think they want to make a statement about the risk and the NFL in general. Not sure a lawsuit is the best way to go about getting that message across. It is a terrible tragedy by any standard.

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