Seau's family sues NFL over brain injuries
Add Junior Seau's family to the thousands of people who are suing the NFL over the long-term damage caused by concussions.
Seau's ex-wife and four children sued the league Wednesday, saying the former linebacker's suicide was the result of brain disease caused by violent hits he sustained while playing football.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in San Diego, blames the NFL for its "acts or omissions" that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head. It says Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those hits, and accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.
Seau died at age 43 of a self-inflicted gunshot in May. He was diagnosed with CTE, based on posthumous tests, earlier this month.
An Associated Press review in November found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the concussion issue has gained attention in recent years. The total number of plaintiffs is 6,000 when spouses, relatives and other representatives are included.
Scores of the concussion lawsuits have been brought together before U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.
"Our attorneys will review it and respond to the claims appropriately through the court," the NFL said in a statement Wednesday.
Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., also is a defendant, with the Seau family saying Riddell was "negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets" used by NFL players. The suit says the helmets were unreasonably dangerous and unsafe.
Riddell issued a statement saying it is, "confident in the integrity of our products and our ability to successfully defend our products against challenges."
Seau was one of the best linebackers during his 20 seasons in the NFL, retiring in 2009.
"We were saddened to learn that Junior, a loving father and teammate, suffered from CTE," the family said in a statement released to the AP. "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."
Plaintiffs 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.
The lawsuit accuses the league of glorifying the violence in pro football, and creating the impression that delivering big hits "is a badge of courage which does not seriously threaten one's health."
It singles out NFL Films and some of its videos for promoting the brutality of the game.
"In 1993's 'NFL Rocks,' Junior Seau offered his opinion on the measure of a punishing hit: 'If I can feel some dizziness, I know that guy is feeling double (that)," the suit says.
The NFL consistently has denied allegations similar to those in the lawsuit.
"The NFL, both directly and in partnership with the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and other leading organizations, is committed to supporting a wide range of independent medical and scientific research that will both address CTE and promote the long-term health and safety of athletes at all levels," the league told the AP after it was revealed Seau had CTE.
The lawsuit claims money was behind the NFL's actions.
"The NFL knew or suspected that any rule changes that sought to recognize that link (to brain disease) and the health risk to NFL players would impose an economic cost that would significantly and adversely change the profit margins enjoyed by the NFL and its teams," the Seaus said in the suit.
The National Institutes of Health, based in Bethesda, Md., studied three unidentified brains, one of which was Seau's, and said the findings on Seau were similar to autopsies of people "with exposure to repetitive head injuries."
"It was important to us to get to the bottom of this, the truth," Gina Seau told the AP then. "And now that it has been conclusively determined from every expert that he had obviously had CTE, we just hope it is taken more seriously. You can't deny it exists, and it is hard to deny there is a link between head trauma and CTE. There's such strong evidence correlating head trauma and collisions and CTE."
In the final years of his life, Seau went through wild behavior swings, according to Gina and to 23-year-old son, Tyler. There also were signs of irrationality, forgetfulness, insomnia and depression.
"He emotionally detached himself and would kind of 'go away' for a little bit," Tyler Seau said. "And then the depression and things like that. It started to progressively get worse."
Seau's ex-wife and four children sued the league Wednesday, saying the former linebacker's suicide was the result of brain disease caused by violent hits he sustained while playing football.
The wrongful death lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in San Diego, blames the NFL for its "acts or omissions" that hid the dangers of repetitive blows to the head. It says Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from those hits, and accuses the NFL of deliberately ignoring and concealing evidence of the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.
Seau died at age 43 of a self-inflicted gunshot in May. He was diagnosed with CTE, based on posthumous tests, earlier this month.
An Associated Press review in November found that more than 3,800 players have sued the NFL over head injuries in at least 175 cases as the concussion issue has gained attention in recent years. The total number of plaintiffs is 6,000 when spouses, relatives and other representatives are included.
Scores of the concussion lawsuits have been brought together before U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.
"Our attorneys will review it and respond to the claims appropriately through the court," the NFL said in a statement Wednesday.
Helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc., also is a defendant, with the Seau family saying Riddell was "negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets" used by NFL players. The suit says the helmets were unreasonably dangerous and unsafe.
Riddell issued a statement saying it is, "confident in the integrity of our products and our ability to successfully defend our products against challenges."
Seau was one of the best linebackers during his 20 seasons in the NFL, retiring in 2009.
"We were saddened to learn that Junior, a loving father and teammate, suffered from CTE," the family said in a statement released to the AP. "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."
Plaintiffs 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.
The lawsuit accuses the league of glorifying the violence in pro football, and creating the impression that delivering big hits "is a badge of courage which does not seriously threaten one's health."
It singles out NFL Films and some of its videos for promoting the brutality of the game.
"In 1993's 'NFL Rocks,' Junior Seau offered his opinion on the measure of a punishing hit: 'If I can feel some dizziness, I know that guy is feeling double (that)," the suit says.
The NFL consistently has denied allegations similar to those in the lawsuit.
"The NFL, both directly and in partnership with the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and other leading organizations, is committed to supporting a wide range of independent medical and scientific research that will both address CTE and promote the long-term health and safety of athletes at all levels," the league told the AP after it was revealed Seau had CTE.
The lawsuit claims money was behind the NFL's actions.
"The NFL knew or suspected that any rule changes that sought to recognize that link (to brain disease) and the health risk to NFL players would impose an economic cost that would significantly and adversely change the profit margins enjoyed by the NFL and its teams," the Seaus said in the suit.
The National Institutes of Health, based in Bethesda, Md., studied three unidentified brains, one of which was Seau's, and said the findings on Seau were similar to autopsies of people "with exposure to repetitive head injuries."
"It was important to us to get to the bottom of this, the truth," Gina Seau told the AP then. "And now that it has been conclusively determined from every expert that he had obviously had CTE, we just hope it is taken more seriously. You can't deny it exists, and it is hard to deny there is a link between head trauma and CTE. There's such strong evidence correlating head trauma and collisions and CTE."
In the final years of his life, Seau went through wild behavior swings, according to Gina and to 23-year-old son, Tyler. There also were signs of irrationality, forgetfulness, insomnia and depression.
"He emotionally detached himself and would kind of 'go away' for a little bit," Tyler Seau said. "And then the depression and things like that. It started to progressively get worse."
His family is wasting money on this lawsuit; the judge will easily dismiss this case. Every football player knows the risks involved while playing this sport. Nobody forced them to play! American culture is all about sex, drugs, guns and violence. We all love and embrace this culture.
Wow, who knew that using your head as a batting ram, would cause injury.  He was told, just like all the other players, don't lead with your head, you could hurt someone.  And you will get a 15 yard penalty too.
I'm surprised they're not suing the NRA as well. After all, somebody was clearly holding a gun to his head, making him play a violent sport against his will.
Life is full of choices. Individuals make them.
Following the parents logic, they themselves should be sued for creating his life to begin with.
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It's THEIR fault.
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Do I get a prize for that?
yep. the money they banked while he was playing can certainly afford the best lawyers. i don't watch many sports but i will bet that the ex and kids were in the stands cheering him on and on and on. perhaps the family can be sued for profiting from such a deadly sport.
Isn't it amazing how a few bucks or a few Milion bucks can make one feel so much better about the loss of a loved one ???
Only in America! Disgusting.
Gee whiz. Sue the NFL, the team, the helmet manufacturer, the college, the high school, the little league. Let's not take any responsibility for your own action. I am pretty sure Junior was forced to play football in the NFL and was forced to accept millions of dollars.
I think I'll sue the NFL because the stadium seats aggravate my hemorrhoids.
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Football is a collision sport and injuries happen in collision sports. I bet she wasn't complaining when he was cashing those seven figure checks.
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He knew the risks involved when he started playing football. He knew that football was a high contact sport. In my opinion the NFL is not responsible for the concussions he suffered. Riddell, the equipment company, is developing safer helmet  and pad designs. The NFL has the toughest penalties on hard hits.Â
I saw this one coming right after the finings.. Seriosly did the NFL tell him to keep playing? Did the NFL make him sign his multi million dollar contract? I hope the judge throws this out and makes them pay for court fee's... Maybe they should sue the Helmet company too??? (sarcasim)
*findings
 @Ponie66 You might as well correct this one too:
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*fees
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(An apostrophe is never used to make a word plural.)
 @Ponie66 Don't it just aggravate ya when you post w/o proof reading ?? I do it all the time and I still have typos.
Do you know what kind of door this could open up.
If football players could sue the NFL for injuries sustained while playing then that will be the end of professional football.
Juniors family just disgraced his death. Pitiful.
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Welcome to America, the land of the free and the home of the lawsuit. USA Rocks not just the NFL.
 @olyvinman I almost spit my coffee on the screen. lmao
The family had no problem spending the millions he made playing football. But now the well dried upi they need to go after someone else. Get lost and get a life!!!!!!!
 @godawgs Is this just pure conjecture or do you have some sort of proof that they spent his millions away?
Family never complained when the money was coming in I bet.
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Good luck trying to prove that the CTE caused the suicide, because you can't.Â
This is a Joke!!!
I think I should sue the NFL too. I get get pretty stressed out when there is bad call & if my team doesn't win. Don't they realize just watching Football on the TV causes me mental, emotional, and extreme anxieties, just like this law suit they both are raising my blood pressure.Â
These lawsuits are absurd! Â Does the NFL need a affidavit for players to sign acknowledging that the sport is violent and one might get hurt? Â What's next? Â NASCAR drivers suing the car makers? Â Personal responsibility apparently does not exist anymore. Â There are former NFL players that are saying these lawsuits are baseless. Â These players know the risk and relish it. Â Maybe Junior should have picked up a golf club or ping-pong paddle? Â Sheesh!!
Athletes know the risk of playing those sports where there are big hits. He had been playing since high school most likely, where mom had to sign off on it and probably even encouraged it. He earned top dollar for taking the risk and it seems he chose to not deal with it and that is tragically sad and they have my sympathy, but a money grab does nothing and is an insult to his memory. I think it should serve more as a warning to all athletes who ignore this type of injury and continue to play, which is then at their own peril.
I am sad of his death! However, major hits are the game thus no grounds for a winnable lawsuit.
Our litigious society is becoming sickening
I am sorry about his death, but it is well known that this is a VIOLENT sport. The risks to me, as a fan, are quite obvious.
 @jeff Not only that, but he was also paid millions and millions of dollars to play said sport.
 @yournamehere  @jeff ...and while I am totally guessing here, I'd say 90% of the "violent hits he sustained..." were delivered by him to the opposing player.
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Plaintiffs are listed as Gina Seau, Junior's ex-wife...while not the only one listed the least surprising to me.