Concussion Lawsuit Filed Against NHL: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The NHL reportedly faces a new lawsuit from former players over concussions and the measures taken by the league to protect employees against head injuries. 

According to Adam Proteau of The Hockey News, the lawsuit was filed by a group of 29 former players in Minnesota on Feb. 9:

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Former NHL star Robert “Butch” Goring and well-known veterans Sergio Momesso, Manny Legace, Brian Savage and Todd Warriner are among a group of 29 retired players who Monday joined concussion litigation against the NHL for failing to protect its players from the effects of traumatic head injuries.

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Per Katie Strang of ESPN, the new lawsuit says the former players allege the NHL "displayed a 'cavalier attitude' in the face of scientific evidence that has linked head trauma to long-term neurological damage."

This new lawsuit follows a class-action suit that was filed in November 2013 by 10 former players, per Steve Busfield of The Guardian:

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The lawsuit seeks damages and court-approved, NHL-sponsored medical monitoring for the players' brain trauma and/or injuries, which they blame on their pro-hockey careers. It was filed in federal court in Washington on behalf of players who retired on or before February 14 of this year and have suffered such injuries.

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In November 2014, per Rick Westhead of TSN citing legal documents, the NHL put blame back on the players for their injuries.

"Publicly available information related to concussions and their long-term effects, coupled with the events that had transpired—i.e., the players incurring head injuries—should have allowed (players) to put two and two together," the NHL said in the court filings appearing in Westhead's report. 

Concussions and head injuries have become a hot-button issue in all sports. Most notably, the NFL was embroiled in a legal battle with hundreds of former players seeking damages for past head trauma suffered on the field and allegations of improper treatment. 

The NFL lawsuit is ongoing, as the two sides have been unable to reach a settlement, so the NHL should be prepared for a lengthy court battle, especially since the number of players involved is slowly starting to grow.