Key facts
- Five law firms have been barred from the NFL's $1 billion concussion settlement fund.
- The firms are accused of fraudulently steering clients to doctors for Parkinson's disease diagnoses.
- Over $95 million was approved for 57 players before an audit was initiated.
- Attorneys involved in the fraudulent claims received approximately $20 million.
- The NFL stated that misconduct threatening the settlement's integrity will not be tolerated.
Court officials overseeing the NFL’s $1 billion concussion settlement fund have barred five law firms from further participation after finding they engaged in fraudulent practices. These firms allegedly steered former players toward doctors who would provide Parkinson's disease diagnoses, regardless of symptoms, to secure payouts from the fund. The scheme involved 98 former players, with 57 claims totaling over $95 million approved before an audit was triggered. Attorneys involved in these fraudulent claims received approximately $20 million.
The report detailed an "organized scheme" where law firms circumvented anti-fraud safeguards. Among those implicated is Bart Oates, a former NFL player and attorney. The NFL stated its commitment to the settlement's integrity and that misconduct would not be tolerated. The settlement requires diagnoses from contracted, board-certified neurologists, but the firms allegedly used unapproved doctors and manipulated the process by having players on medication to suppress symptoms, making it difficult for approved doctors to make independent assessments.
The NFL established the fund in 2013 to settle claims that it concealed neurological risks associated with concussions. The plan provides baseline testing and compensation for serious illnesses like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and CTE. The league has previously raised concerns about fraud in fund disbursement, while some player attorneys have accused the league of creating obstacles for claimants. The identified law firms include Douglas Grossinger, Attorney at Law; Feder Law, LLC; Pro Athlete Law Firm, P.A.; Syme Law, PLLC; and Reppert Oates & Vytell, LLC.