Seau Family Settles With NFL in Wrongful Death Suit

San Diego – October 5, 2018 – Cooley helped the family of late NFL player Junior Seau secure a confidential settlement in their litigation against the NFL, which alleged Seau took his own life at age 43 because of brain injuries sustained during his tenure with the league. Partner Steve Strauss led the Cooley team litigating on behalf of the Seau family.

“It was an honor for Cooley to represent the Seau children in this litigation,” Strauss said. “Throughout this process, they have demonstrated the same spirit and commitment that their father Junior modeled during his incredible life and NFL career. We know he would have been proud of them.”

A post-mortem study of Seau’s brain concluded he had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition caused by repetitive brain trauma. In 2016, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit approved a settlement between the NFL and a class of 5,000 former players over brain injuries, but the Seau family opted out in order to pursue their individual action against the NFL and recover for the children’s unique wrongful death claims.

A passionate and tireless advocate for his clients, Strauss has tried numerous landmark and novel cases over his more than 35-year legal career, achieving trial verdicts and settlements in excess of $10 billion. Among his many accolades, Strauss has been named an Energy and Environment Trailblazer by The National Law Journal as well as a Top IP Lawyer, Top Development Lawyer and one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California by the Daily Journal. Last year, he was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and he is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

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Press Coverage:

"Family of Junior Seau Settles Case Against NFL" – New York Times

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