PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Critics of the proposed $1 billion settlement of NFL concussion claims want a full U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia to review a recent decision that upheld the deal.
The challengers believe the lead players’ lawyers negotiated away compensation for chronic traumatic encephalopathy because the science is still being developed.
They consider CTE the “industrial disease” of football and say it was the key complaint in the initial lawsuit.
In their appeal Thursday, the critics’ lawyers say the lead players’ negotiators “traded” away the issue in exchange for enhanced compensation for less common problems, such
as Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
The lead plaintiffs’ lawyers say further appeals will delay payments to ailing players and their families.
