N.F.L.’s argument that the case should be dismissed because the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners governed this dispute. Other judges have sided with the league on this point, and the plaintiffs’ lawyers said Brody could have followed suit, had she ruled on the issue.
In a trial, the players would have also had to prove that the concussions they received in the N.F.L. led to their current conditions, a major hurdle given the lack of documentation. Under the current deal, players will not have to document that they had any concussions to be eligible for a payment, the lawyers said.
The lawyers for the plaintiffs encouraged the players to agree to the settlement because, they said, it is better to get some money to players who are sick now and coverage for those who may be sick in the future.
When the case is fully settled, Brody will have to rule on how much the lawyers representing the players will be paid. They have asked for, and the N.F.L. has agreed to pay, $112 million in fees.
The N.F.L. has also spent millions of dollars to defend itself. From April 2013 to March 2014, the league paid $7.4 million to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, the firm most involved in representing the league.N.F.L.’s argument that the case should be dismissed because the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners governed this dispute. Other judges have sided with the league on this point, and the plaintiffs’ lawyers said Brody could have followed suit, had she ruled on the issue.
In a trial, the players would have also had to prove that the concussions they received in the N.F.L. led to their current conditions, a major hurdle given the lack of documentation. Under the current deal, players will not have to document that they had any concussions to be eligible for a payment, the lawyers said.
The lawyers for the plaintiffs encouraged the players to agree to the settlement because, they said, it is...