NFL Accused of hiding brain injury links says lawsuit

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawsuit bringing together scores of cases has been filed in federal court accusing the NFL of hiding information linking football-related head trauma to permanent brain injuries.

Lawyers for former players say more than 80 pending lawsuits are consolidated in the “master complaint” filed Thursday in Philadelphia.

Plaintiffs hope to hold the NFL responsible for the medical monitoring and treatment of more than 2,000 retired players. Some suffer from dementia or other ailments.

Mary Ann Easterling says she will remain a plaintiff despite the April suicide of her 62-year-old husband, former Atlanta Falcons safety Roy Easterling. She tells The Associated Press that he suffered from undiagnosed dementia for many years that left him angry and volatile.

She says league officials have no idea what families go through.