NHL Culture of Violence Claims by Montador Estate Remanded

The National Hockey League must defend in state court claims by the estate of deceased NHL player Steve Montador that it promotes a culture of violence and misrepresented the dangers of head trauma, the Northern District of Illinois ruled.

The NHL sought to litigate the lawsuit in federal court, arguing the state law claims are preempted by the Labor Management Relations Act.

Preemption under the LMRA applies only when the determination of the state law claims is “inextricably intertwined” with the collective bargaining agreement, Judge Thomas M. Durkin of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said ...