The AFL is bracing for its greatest authorized battle after 60 gamers on Tuesday launched unprecedented authorized motion towards the league.
Geelong premiership hero Max Rooke has reportedly been listed because the lead plaintiff within the class motion go well with that’s coming after the AFL for compensation over concussions and head accidents.
The Herald Sun first reported Margalit Injury Lawyers lodged the landmark class motion on the Supreme Court of Victoria and the agency’s managing principal Michel Margalit has declared gamers could possibly be awarded compensation of greater than $2 million every plus medical bills.
Margalit Lawyers has launched the category motion on behalf of gamers employed by a number of AFL golf equipment between 1985 and 14 March 2023 who both suffered concussion or suffered injury from concussions.
Beyond Rooke is it unclear which different gamers are concerned within the motion.
It comes simply days after former Western Bulldogs premiership star Liam Picken additionally filed motion towards the AFL by way of the Supreme Court of Victoria. His go well with can be searching for compensation from his former membership and membership medical doctors over concussions he suffered by way of his profession.
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The paperwork filed on Tuesday present Rooke claims he suffered as much as 30 concussions throughout his profession the place he performed 135 video games for the Cats, together with two grand remaining victories.
The lawsuit claims Rooke has suffered everlasting, life altering accidents attributable to negligence from the AFL.
The lawsuit comes on the identical day the AFL introduced it’ll spend $25 million on a long-term examine into the consequences of concussion.
Margalit launched an announcement, saying it’s “heartbreaking” seeing the influence of the accidents suffered by the gamers.
“The injuries suffered by this group of former AFL players, as a direct result of the concussions sustained while playing Aussie Rules, has had a devastating impact on their lives and the lives of their loved ones,’’ she said.
“Some of the players who have joined this landmark class action have never been able to hold down a job after leaving the AFL. Their personal lives have been shattered and they live with constant physical and mental pain. It’s heartbreaking and they need to be adequately cared for.’’
“They dedicated their lives to the game. Years later, their footy career is a distant memory and they find themselves injured and without the means to care for those injuries. This is despite AFL being one of the biggest economic drivers in the state.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied. These injured players have waited too long. Now is the time to hold the AFL accountable and to seek fair and just compensation.”
“The AFL should have taken accountability earlier, rather than these former players having no choice but to seek a remedy for their pain and suffering through the Supreme Court.’’
“Financial compensation can never fix the damage that concussion has caused, but it will be an important step forward in recognition of the damage caused to them. We hope that the AFL will engage in genuine and early resolution discussions, to avoid unnecessarily prolonging the suffering of these former players.’’
Last week Picken’s lawyers claimed he returned several irregular cognitive test results during his career but was not alerted to the fact.
Picken also reportedly suffers from photophobia, or an aversion to bright light.
In documents filed with the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday, and shared by The Daily Mail, Picken claims the club and doctors breached its duty of care to him.
Principal lawyer at National Compensation Lawyers, Michael Tanner told The Age Picken was unaware of the extent of his head injuries.
Picken was not the first player to launch legal action as former Collingwood AFLW vice-captain Emma Grant launched a civil lawsuit after a concussion in the 2020 pre-season led to her early retirement.
A class action was revealed last month with Margalit Injury Lawyers claiming the firm had been “inundated” with claims of life-changing head accidents from former gamers.
“Action should have been taken many, many years ago, not only to change the protocols, to increase education but also to financially support people both once injured but also to deter them so they don’t return to play too early,” Margalit instructed SEN’s Whateley.
Margalit referred to class actions by former NFL gamers, who had seen greater than $1b paid out in compensation.
“We are looking at the types of compensation that’s been garnered internationally. For the NFL class action in the US, the initial settlements there was close to (USD) $1 billion,” Ms Margalit added.
“That is a very realistic figure in terms of this class action.”
The likes of Danny Frawley, Shane Tuck and Polly Farmer have all been identified with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) after dying.
Source: www.news.com.au
