NFL Sued for Wrongful Death by Junior Seau’s Family

Carol Keough January 24, 2013

As we all wait in anticipation to see the million dollar commercials and whether the Baltimore Ravens or the San Francisco 49ers will take home the ultimate NFL prize, the NFL is getting some press for a different reason that is much less pleasant. On January 23, 2013, Junior Seau’s family and estate sued the NFL for wrongful death. Junior Seau played for the San Diego Charger, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. Seau died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in May at age 43. The suit claims that Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of his playing football for the NFL and that the NFL allegedly ignored evidence tying violent on-field hits to such types of traumatic brain injuries.

The debate about safety in the NLF has loomed over the 2012-13 season with changes in rules and severe penalties being used to deter various types of on-field tackles and hits that threaten player safety. What will likely be the issue in a personal injury lawsuit such as this is whether the NFL failed to disclose these risks to the players and whether the players (such as Junior Seau) assumed the risk by deciding to play football which is obviously a physical and arguably dangerous sport.

For more details on the allegations and the suit, check out the NFL website http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000129982/article/junior-seaus-family-sues-nfl-claims-wrongful-death