On Wednesday, a Pennsylvania federal judge gave final approval to a class action settlement between the National Football League (NFL) and close to 5,000 former professional football players who suffered concussions during games and practices. This NFL concussion settlement will resolve all claims against the NFL in the multidistrict litigation titled In re: National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation.

The plaintiffs filed a motion seeking class certification and final approval of the NFL concussion class action settlement on Nov. 12, 2014. Judge Anita B. Brody overruled objections from former players who argued the NFL concussion class action settlement didn’t adequately address their ongoing medical needs. She granted final approval to the deal, finding its terms were “fair, reasonable, and adequate.”

The NFL concussion class action lawsuit was initially filed in July 2011 by 73 former NFL players who accused the league of failing to protect players from the chronic risks associated with repeated head injuries. The players also accused the NFL of fraudulently concealing the risks associated with concussions and sub-concussive head injuries.

Since the original NFL concussion class action lawsuit was filed, hundreds of substantially similar actions have been filed. These actions were consolidated into a single NFL concussion MDL, In re: National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation. The plaintiffs argue that the NFL had a duty to inform players about the short-term and long-term health risks associated with repeated head injuries. They accuse the league of creating a culture that “glorified violence” and encouraging players to continue playing the game despite head injuries.

“MDL Plaintiffs allege that head injuries lead to a host of debilitating conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, depression, deficits in cognitive functioning, reduced processing speed, attention and reasoning, loss of memory, sleeplessness, mood swings, and personality changes,” according to Judge Brody’s order approving the NFL concussion settlement. Repeated head trauma can allegedly cause NFL players to develop a condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which is associated with dementia, depression, and an increased risk of suicide.

Judge Brody ordered the parties to pursue mediation in July 2013 with the goal of entering into a class action settlement. After two months of negotiations, the parties reached an agreement that would provide $765 million for medical exams and compensation for player injuries. The parties submitted their motion for preliminary approval of the deal in January 2014, but Judge Brody refused to approve it due to concern the capped fund would run out before all qualifying Class Members were paid.

The parties returned to negotiations and submitted a revised class action settlement for approval in June 2014, which Judge Brody preliminarily approved. She also certified a Class of all living NFL football players who retired as professional NFL players prior to July 7, 2014, as well as their representative and derivative claimants.

On Wednesday, Judge Brody gave final approval to the NFL concussion class action settlement, which will provide an uncapped monetary award to retired players with qualifying diagnoses and will fund a $75 million Baseline Assessment Program that will provide eligible retired players with free assessments of their objective neurological functioning. The settlement also provides additional counseling and prescription drug benefits and creates an education fund to promote safety and injury prevention for football players of all ages.

For more information about the NFL concussion class action settlement, click here or visit www.NFLConcussionSettlement.com.

The plaintiffs are represented by Seeger Weiss LLP, Anapol Schwartz Weiss Cohan Feldman & Smalley PC and Podhurst Orseck PA, among others.

The NFL Concussion Class Action Lawsuit is In re: National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation, Case No. 2:12-md-02323-AB, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

UPDATE: On Apr. 18, 2016, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has approved an uncapped National Football League concussion settlement, finding that the deal is fair to the Class of retired players who suffered concussions during games and practices.

UPDATE 2: On Oct. 23, 2018, NFL players who were set to receive compensation from a traumatic brain injury settlement have discovered that their payout will be reduced to almost nothing.