NFL Players File Lawsuit Over Drug Scandal
Allegations Against the NFL
The NFL faces another lawsuit as players allege they were supplied with powerful painkillers and other drugs that led to serious problems later in life.
A group of retired NFL players have filed a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging the league supplied them with painkillers and other drugs in order to keep them on the field despite injuries.
In some cases, the players developed addictions to the drugs, while others developed more severe injuries when they played while hurt.
No Prescription
According to the lawsuit, the players were given narcotic painkillers such as Percodan, Percocet and Vicodin, as well as sleep aids like Ambien and anti-inflammatory drugs like Toradol. The players claim that none of them had prescriptions for such powerful drugs, and some of them developed heart, lung and nerve ailments as well as kidney failure. Some claim that they also developed chronic injuries to muscles, bones and ligaments.
Concussion Lawsuit
This lawsuit comes less than a year after the NFL agreed to settle suits from thousands of retired players who claimed the league ignored the risks of concussion, which led many players to develop dementia and other mental impairments. The new lawsuit named eight players as plaintiffs, including high profile players such as Jim McMahon, Richard Dent and Keith Van Horne. More than 500 other players have also joined the suit.
Severe Injuries
According to the lawsuit, McMahon suffered a broken neck and ankle but was given painkillers and sent back onto the field. He claims he was never informed of his injuries.
McMahon later developed an addiction to painkillers, taking more than 100 Percocet per month at one point, even during the off-season.
Van Horne said he played an entire season on a broken leg and was not told about the injury for five years.
Jeremy Newberry, a former defensive lineman who retired in 2009, claims he developed kidney failure, high blood pressure, and severe headaches as a result of Toradol injections he received before almost every game.
He stated that the drug numbed the pain instantly. Although he could barely walk into the locker room before the injection, he could sprint onto the field at game time afterward.
After retiring, a doctor informed Newberry that his medical records showed elevated protein levels in his blood — a sign of kidney problems.
Newberry says these records revealed he had suffered from the condition for years, yet team doctors continued clearing him to play without ever notifying him of the dangerous levels.
When the negligence of a healthcare provider creates medical issues that could be debilitating or cause death, a lawsuit may be in order. Contact Dallas-Fort Worth lawyers at Frenkel & Frenkel to schedule a free initial consultation regarding negligence by a medical provider. For more information on Frenkel and Frenkel, please visit our website at www.FrenkelFirm.com