PHILADELPHIA (Diya TV) — Court officials overseeing the NFL’s concussion settlement program have barred five law firms from handling any new claims after finding evidence of a scheme that allegedly secured questionable Parkinson’s disease diagnoses for former players seeking compensation.
The decision comes after a court-ordered audit uncovered what special masters described as an organized effort to bypass safeguards built into the NFL concussion settlement program. The findings could affect millions of dollars in claims and raise new concerns about fraud within the settlement process.
According to a report filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, the five law firms were involved in claims submitted on behalf of 98 retired NFL players who sought compensation for Parkinson’s disease. The report found that 57 claims worth more than $95 million had already received approval before investigators identified suspicious patterns. Attorneys involved in those cases reportedly collected about $20 million in legal fees.
Another 37 claims remain pending and will now be denied. Former players involved in those claims may restart the application process under the settlement’s rules. The special masters said the law firms used tactics designed to evade the program’s anti-fraud protections. The report described the activity as a coordinated effort to funnel questionable Parkinson’s disease diagnoses into the compensation system.
Under the NFL concussion settlement, only approved doctors can provide qualifying diagnoses for compensation claims. These physicians must meet strict requirements, including board certification and expertise in neurology. Investigators found that some law firms allegedly sent retired players to unapproved doctors before directing them to approved physicians. According to the report, the unapproved doctors diagnosed players with Parkinson’s disease and prescribed medications that can suppress symptoms. After receiving those diagnoses and prescriptions, players visited approved doctors.
The report said the medications made it difficult for approved doctors to independently evaluate whether players actually showed symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. As a result, approved physicians often relied on the players’ medical histories, including previous diagnoses and prescriptions. Investigators also cited examples of unusual practices. In one instance, retired players reportedly gathered in a Dallas hotel lobby to meet a traveling doctor who examined them in a rented hotel suite. Another doctor used by the firms allegedly lacked board certification and did not appear to specialize in movement disorders.
The report identified the law firms as Douglas Grossinger, Attorney at Law; Feder Law, LLC; Pro Athlete Law Firm, P.A.; Syme Law, PLLC; and Reppert Oates & Vytell, LLC. Investigators said the practice began with attorney Douglas Grossinger. According to the report, Grossinger later worked with other attorneys to submit claims on his behalf to avoid drawing attention to the volume of Parkinson’s disease cases.
The report also named Bart Oates, a former NFL player and three-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. Oates later earned a law degree and entered legal practice. Investigators said Oates used similar methods involving diagnoses. Informants told auditors that he contacted retired NFL players and allegedly promised Parkinson’s disease diagnoses if they switched legal representation to his firm. Oates did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The NFL said it supports efforts to protect the integrity of the settlement program.
“The NFL remains committed to ensuring that players and their families receive the benefits they deserve,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Any misconduct threatens the integrity of the Settlement and the prompt payment of legitimate claims.”
McCarthy said the league believes the ruling sends a strong message that fraud will not be tolerated within the NFL concussion settlement system.
The NFL agreed in 2013 to create the concussion settlement fund to resolve class-action claims that the league failed to fully disclose the long-term neurological risks associated with repeated head injuries. The fund is designed to operate for 65 years and provides compensation for serious neurological conditions linked to football-related concussions. Eligible illnesses include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS, and certain deaths involving chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
The settlement can provide awards of up to $5 million in severe cases. The latest findings highlight the challenges of balancing access to compensation for former players with protections against fraud. Court officials indicated that additional law firms could face scrutiny as investigators continue reviewing claims submitted through the settlement program.
