Corboy & Demetrio, which represents the Estate of Steve Montador, confirms that a brain study reveals the late NHL player had “widespread presence” of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death three months ago.
The CTE findings were announced Tuesday by the Canadian Sports Concussion Project at Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital, which performed the neuro-pathological examination of Montador.
“The Montador family's suspicions have been confirmed: Steve Montador's 35-year-old brain was decaying due to the head hits he endured during his NHL career. CTE has afflicted yet another young athlete and his family. It is heartbreaking that such a vibrant young man sustained such monumental brain damage while playing a professional sport,” said Corboy & Demetrio attorney William T. Gibbs.
The news follows a judge's ruling May 5 that ordered NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to testify in a lawsuit by 60 former NHL players who allege the league colluded with doctors to intentionally minimize the severe health effects of concussion on its players. On April 22, a judge approved a settlement in a similar lawsuit brought against former pro football players that could cost the National Football League $1 billion over the next 65 years.
Steve Montador was a 10-year NHL veteran who suffered a concussion while playing for the Blackhawks in February of 2012 and who eventually retired while playing hockey overseas due to the concussions' lingering effects. The 35-year-old player was found dead in his home in Ontario, Canada on Feb. 15, 2015.
“This should serve as yet another sad wakeup call to the NHL,” said Thomas Demetrio, who along with Gibbs represents not only the Montador Estate but also the Estate of Len Boogaard, the late NHL player who died after suffering the effects of CTE; the Estate of Dave Duerson, the late NFL player who asked his brain be studied for CTE at the time of his suicide; and the Estate of former San Francisco 49er, Forrest Blue, who was also diagnosed with CTE in on autopsy after years of battling Lewy body dementia.
Corboy & Demetrio has a leadership role in the consolidated lawsuits that have been filed against the NHL pending in Minneapolis, MN. The Chicago personal injury law firm was appointed by a federal judge to the Plaintiff's Executive Committee in the multi district litigation.
