Toronto personal injury lawyer Albert Conforzi: “It ain’t over till it’s over” is one of the great sports sayings, and it now equally applies to personal injury litigation.
On Tuesday, Judge Anita B. Brody of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania rejected the proposed settlement because the league and the plaintiffs’ lawyers had not produced enough evidence to persuade her that the $765 million would cover the potential costs for the 18,000 retirees over the 65-year life of the agreement.
Brody denied a motion that was meant to serve as a preliminary approval for the settlement, seeking more information. The proposed settlement that the judge reviewed, which was released last week, was to form the basis for mailings sent to retired players. The players would then have several months to approve the settlement, or opt out of it.
Whenever a case is subject to court approval, whether in Canada or the US, materials are required by the court to justify approval being granted. The concern expressed here is that the amount of money being proposed as settlement may or may not be enough. The Court has asked for more information.
Albert Conforzi is a personal injury lawyer with Pace Law Firm in Toronto. Pace’s personal injury lawyers have been helping accident victims since 1980.