Boogaards file wrongful death suit
Derek Boogaard's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the NHL, according to multiple reports.
The family claims the league is responsible for the brain damage that Boogaard sustained during six seasons in the league, and for his addiction to prescription painkillers.
Boogaard died from an accidental overdose of pain medication and alcohol in May of 2011 at age 28. He was later diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain ailment caused by blows to the head.
The lawsuit was filed before the two-year statute of limitation for wrongful-death cases in places, according to the New York Times.
The lawsuit was reportedly filed on Friday by the Chicago law firm of Corboy and Demetrio in Cook County (N.Y.) Circuit Court.
Boogaard was under contract with the New York Rangers when he died. He played five seasons with the Minnesota Wild before finishing his career with the Rangers. He had signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal in July of 2010.
The Rangers declined to comment on the lawsuit, according to ESPN New York.
Boogaard had a concussion early in the 2010-11 season. He played 277 NHL games during his career that included 589 penalty minutes.
In 2012, the Boogaard family sought nearly $10 million in a lawsuit against the NHL Players' Association, but was dismissed earlier this year.
The family used a different lawyer in that suit, according to the New York Times.
