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Zelle Hofmann Files Concussion Class Action Against National Hockey League
[July 29, 2014]

Zelle Hofmann Files Concussion Class Action Against National Hockey League


MINNEAPOLIS --(Business Wire)--

Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mason LLP filed a class action lawsuit today against the National Hockey League ("NHL") arising from the effects of brain injuries caused by concussive and sub-concussive impacts suffered by former NHL players. Jon Rohloff, who was a defenseman for the Boston Bruins from 1994-1997, is the Plaintiff and Class representative.

According to the lawsuit, "[f]ormer NHL players are uniting to send one resounding message: they signed up to play hockey knowing that they might get injured and dinged, but they did not sign up for brain damage."

Over the course of an NHL season, a player sustains hundreds of hits to the head. These concussive and sub-concussive impacts, when multiplied over the course of an NHL career, result in impaired brain function or deadly brain disease.

The lawsuit sets forth several allegations, including:

  • The NHL, for decades, failed to inform, warn, or protect its players from repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries resulting from concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head;
  • The NHL refused to institute policies and protocols to protect its players from concussive and sub-concussive injuries;
  • Rather than inform its players regarding the risks of head injuries, the NHL openly encouraged severely injurious conduct such as fihting and extreme violence as a regular part of the game. In fact, the NHL did not simply allow fighting and violence - it promoted, regulated, and profited from it; and
  • The NHL concealed scientific evidence about the health risks and consequences associated with head injuries received while playing in the NHL.



The lawsuit seeks medical monitoring, injunctive relief, and financial compensation related to his chronic injuries, medical costs, financial losses, and intangible losses suffered as a result of the NHL's misconduct.

A copy of the complaint can be viewed here:


https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=F5C703C9E8099CC!113&authkey=!AIHeRzXaMXUheI0&ithint=file%2cpdf

Further information can be provided by Michael R. Cashman ([email protected]), a senior partner at Zelle Hofmann. Plaintiff and the Class are also represented by Richard M. Hagstrom, a senior partner at Zelle Hofmann, as well as Zelle Hofmann attorney Shawn Stuckey, a retired NFLer who played with the Buccaneers, Patriots and Vikings. The firm has a rich tradition of caring for and protecting the rights of former pro and college players in cases against the NFL, NCAA, and NFLPA. Plaintiff and the class are also represented by Lew Remele, Scott Andresen and Jeff Klobucar at the Bassford Remele law firm.

About Zelle Hofmann:

Zelle Hofmann Voelbel & Mason LLP is a national litigation and dispute resolution law firm with offices in Boston, Dallas, London, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The Firm excels at handling sports-related disputes, insurance, antitrust and other complex litigation on both a national and global scale. The Firm also has an affiliate office in Beijing, People's Republic of China. For more information about Zelle Hofmann, visit www.zelle.com.


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