Corboy & Demetrio Files Concussion Lawsuit for Former Blackhawk Player & Lightning Coach Steve Ludzik
Corboy & Demetrio and Gordon Law Offices have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Steve Ludzik, who played for the Chicago Blackhawks for eight seasons and coached the Tampa Bay Lightning, claiming repeated concussive injuries resulted in Parkinson’s disease.
Ludzik, 54, alleges that during his 10-year NHL career he sustained concussive brain traumas and that the NHL failed to warn him of the significant risk of brain damage. The NHL “allowed and encouraged Ludzik, after suffering concussions, to return to play in the same game and/or practice,” the complaint alleges.
“Ludzy is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease as a result of hits to the head during his extensive and impressive NHL career,” said attorney William T. Gibbs of Corboy & Demetrio, which represents Ludzik.
Gibbs, along with Corboy & Demetrio Founder Thomas Demetrio, represents not only Steve Ludzik, but also the Estates of Steve Montador and Derek Boogaard, both late NHL players who were diagnosed with CTE after their deaths; 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.
“The NHL Commissioner’s recent denial of any evidence linking repetitive head trauma with later-in-life brain damage clearly sends the wrong message. Steve Ludzik is unfortunately living with the reality that head trauma can, and does, cause brain damage,” Gibbs added.
Steve Ludzik said, “I am now facing the fact that a career in the NHL can cause permanent brain damage. It’s time for everyone, including the NHL, to acknowledge that serious, permanent damage can be done if head trauma is ignored or neglected.”
“The NHL has long owed players like Steve Ludzik an honest conversation about the long-term impact of traumatic brain injury,” said Richard R. Gordon of Gordon Law Offices, Ltd, a Chicago law firm also representing Mr. Ludzik and the Estate of Steve Montador with Corboy & Demetrio. “I hope that Ludzy’s courage in shining the spotlight on his own experiences will inspire meaningful change,” Gordon added.
Corboy & Demetrio’s Thomas A. Demetrio and William T. Gibbs have been appointed by a federal judge in Minneapolis, MN, to the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee in the multidistrict NHL concussion litigation.
Steve Ludzik played for the Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres over 8 years, participating in 424 regular season NHL games as well as hundreds of pre-season and post-season games and practices, according to the complaint.
Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation’s premier law firms. The personal injury law firm represents individuals and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases and is renowned for its achievements in the courtroom and for its contributions to the community. The rights and concerns of its clients are at the core of Corboy & Demetrio’s practice. That commitment, dedication, compassion and relentless drive have resulted in exceptional service and exceptional results for its clients. The Chicago law firm has acquired more than $3 billion in settlements and verdicts and has attained almost 600 settlements and verdicts in excess of $1 million. To contact Bill Gibbs, Tom Demetrio or another Chicago personal injury lawyer at the firm, call 312-346-3191 or toll free at 800-356-3191. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about our law firm go to corboydemetrio.com.
Media Contact: Helen Lucaitis, Esq., Communications Director, Corboy & Demetrio, P.C.
33 N. Dearborn Street, 21st floor, Chicago, IL 60602; 312-346-3191 (office)
312-550-2077 (cell); HHL@corboydemetrio.com