Junior Seau’s Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against NFL

The family of deceased NFL star Junior Seau has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL. Seau committed suicide after suffering from brain disease caused by violent hits he received while playing in the league.

The Seau lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in California Superior Court. In their lawsuit, the family blames the NFL for “acts or omissions” about the dangers associated with repeated head injury. The lawsuit claims that Junior Seau developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from repeated hits he received during his playing time.

Seau, 43, took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in May 2012.

The Junior Seau incident led to the realization that 3,800 players have sued the NFL via 175 cases. US District Judge Anita B. Brody has since combined more than 100 of those cases into a class action suit filed against the league.

Also being sued by the Seau family is helmet manufacturer Riddell Inc. The family claims the helmet manufacturer was “negligent in their design, testing, assembly, manufacture, marketing, and engineering of the helmets” used by NFL players.

Junior Seau had a longer than normal career in the NFL, playing for 20 seasons before retiring in 2009.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Junior Seau’s family wrote:

“We were saddened to learn that Junior, a loving father and teammate, suffered from CTE. 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.”

Plaintiff’s in the case include Gina Seau, Junior’s ex-wife; Junior’s children Tyler, Sydney, Jake, and Hunter; and Bette Hoffman, trustee of Seau’s estate.

Do you think the NFL should be held accountable for brain injuries sustained by its athletes?

[Image via ShutterStock]