Locks Law Won’t Join Class Counsel in NFL Concussion Case

Locks Law Firm won’t be joining Seeger Weiss as lead counsel in the National Football League concussion settlement.

The firm’s role in facilitating third-party funding agreements to class members “undermines any claim by the Locks Firm that it would be able to faithfully administer the agreement,” Judge Anita Brody said in an April 18 order denying Locks Law’s motion.

Third-party funding agreements, under which lenders advance money to players expecting big payouts, are prohibited under the settlement agreement.

Philadelphia-based Locks Law sought appointment as administrative class counsel, in addition to existing counsel, New York’s Seeger Weiss, “to implement the settlement agreement in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duty to the plaintiff class.”

The firm argued the NFL has delayed payouts to players as part of an effort “to rig the settlement system.”

Out of nearly 1,100 dementia claims filed by former players, only six have been paid so far, the firm charged in a March 20 brief.

Co-lead class counsel Christopher Seeger, of Seeger Weiss, opposed Locks Law’s appointment request in an April 13 court filing.

The settlement was an “unprecedented accomplishment” that “is working, albeit not perfectly,” Seeger said.

“Importantly, since the Locks motion was filed, 53 new Notices of Monetary Award have been sent to Settlement Class Members, representing over $63 million in awards, and 45 more payments have been made, totaling over $34 million,” Seeger said.

Locks Law’s involvement in the settlement process was “if anything, a hindrance,” as it “sits like a Monday morning quarterback making a list of do-able prescriptions that are already implemented and a list of complaints that are simply at odds with the settlement agreement and good sense,” Seeger said.

The court cited the “fine job Seeger Weiss has done in protecting all members of the class” as another reason for denying the motion.

Locks Law’s David Langfitt didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The case is In re Nat’l Football League Players’ Concussion Litig., E.D. Pa., No. 12-2323, 4/18/18.

To contact the reporters on this story: Perry Cooper in Washington at pcooper@bloomberglaw.com; Steven M. Sellers in Washington at ssellers@bloomberglaw.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steven Patrick at spatrick@bloomberglaw.com