A federal judge has approved a
settlement for NFL concussion lawsuits after years of wrangling:
The settlement is designed to provide payments of up to $5 million to players who have one of a handful of severe neurological disorders, medical monitoring of all players to determine when or if they may qualify for a payment and $10 million for education about concussions.
The landmark deal was originally reached in August 2013, but Judge Anita B. Brody twice asked the two sides to revise their agreement, first to uncap the amount of damages that can be paid for diagnosable conditions and then to remove the limit on how much can be spent on medical monitoring.
Some 200 former players have opted out of the settlement and will pursue their cases in court. There's also debate over whether the list of conditions covered in the settlement includes all of the concussion-related health problems players may face.