Herbert A. Cade
NEW ORLEANS – The National Football League is being sued by a former professional football player from New Orleans.
Roosevelt and Claudia Hunt Taylor filed suit against the National Football League, NFL Properties, LLC and Riddell, Inc. in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on July 26. The Taylors claim Roosevelt suffered multiple concussions during his NFL career that spanned from 1961-74 and included employment with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins.
The plaintiff alleges that he was never warned about returning to the field too quickly after receiving a concussion and that the NFL never informed him of the long-term injury risk associated with football-related concussions. Taylor claims because of his career in the NFL he suffers from memory loss, headaches and dizziness.
The defendant is accused of failing to minimize risk of head injury, failing to use reasonable care in research and investigation of the concussion issue, failing to issue a timely warning to players about the link between concussions and later life cognitive decline, failing to make necessary changes to NFL policy pertaining to blows to the head, collecting and reporting data that was not reliable and causing an increased risk of harm to their players.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss of consortium to Claudia Hunt Taylor in the form of deprived services, society and companionship of her husband; money spent on medical and household care; and deprived earnings of her husband.
The Taylors are represented by Herbert A. Cade of Herman, Herman & Katz, LLC.
The case has been assigned to Division G Judge Robin M. Giarrusso.
Case no. 2012-07319.