Former Hockey Enforcer Targets Canadian leagues with Concussion lawsuit

(Editor’s Note: The complying with article appeared in Concussion Litigation Reporter)

A former hockey enforcer has brought a Camiseta Selección de fútbol de Brasil class action lawsuit in B.C. (Canada) superior Court against a number of North American hockey leagues alleging they failed to protect their players from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as well as their long-lasting consequences.

James McEwan, 31, the former captain Camiseta Sport Club Internacional of the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets, apparently fought more than 200 times in the major junior leagues. He now declares he has symptoms connected with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.

McEwan named the WHL, Canadian Hockey league (CHL), as well as Hockey Canada as defendants. He is seeking to represent former as well as present players in the CHL, who did not play in the national Hockey League, however experienced TBIs during their careers.

Central to his insurance claim is the allegation that fights were “not just condoned as well as tolerated by the coaches as well as managers of the teams Camiseta Tottenham Hotspur he had played for, but… encouraged, applauded as well as rewarded.”

Further, then insurance claim reads that “Mr. McEwan was included in 25 fights throughout the season as well as was ‘glorified’ on numerous social network outlets as holding the very best fight with the most punches landed, as well as was voted the third most entertaining player. The side impact of his constant head trauma began to have a noticeable effect in his daily life. He was beginning to experience serious anxiety, mood swings, character modifications as well as upset outbursts. Mr. McEwan began to take in copious amounts of alcohol in an effort to cope with the physical pain as well as mental distress he was on a regular basis experiencing.”

He eventually “began experiencing serious depression, anxiety, mood swings, memory loss, confusion, upset outbursts, as well as suicidal thoughts.”

The plaintiff alleged the defendants “should have known, or should have known, that several sub concussive as well as concussive blows to the head would lead to long term injury including however not restricted to memory loss, dementia, depression, as well as CTE as well as its associated symptoms.”

He likewise explained that neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee, a researcher with Boston University, has diagnosed CTE in the brains of four former junior hockey players, who never advanced to the NHL. All four eventually dedicated suicide before the age of 30.

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