According to Sports Illustrated, both the National Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League were slapped with separate class action lawsuits on Monday. The lawsuit against the NHL was initiated in federal court in Minnesota and is to be heard by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson of Brady v. NFL fame. The suit, brought by former players, is seeking damages related to the the league’s handling of concussions and head injuries. This comes on the heels of a settlement involving similar claims against the NFL. The lawsuit against the CHL, an organization designed to protect the amateur status of its players, was filed in Toronto and is seeking $180 million in back wages and other compensation. The Plaintiffs in the CHL suit allege that the CHL and its 60 teams conspired to force players to sign unlawful contracts which limited their compensation.
Jason Fixelle is the Sports Highlight Editor for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law and a current second year student at Harvard Law School (Class of 2016).