NFL Plays Offense Naming Dozens of Insurers in Suit Over Player Injuries

Los Angeles, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) - The National Football League has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court  attempting to force nearly three dozen insurance companies to defend the league against a barrage of brain injury claims by players, former players and their families. The NFL has indicated it has been named as a defendant in at least 143 suits relating to bodily or personal injury of its players. It contends the insurers were obligated to defend the league under its general liability policies.

All the firms named have been involved in providing insurance for the league for some period between the late 1960’s and today. The league is seeking at least $5 million dollars in damages.

Active and former players have been seeking damages from the NFL over brain and other bodily injuries they claim to have suffered while playing for the league. Many of those suits have been in highly publicized attempts to gain benefits from California, a state generally viewed to offer better benefits for such claims.

The case, filed Wednesday, is National Football League et. al. vs. Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. et. al., California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, No. 490342.