Five law firms accused of defrauding NFL concussion settlement fund

Five law firms representing 98 former NFL players have been accused of scheming to obtain more than $87 million from the NFL's concussion settlement fund through improper Parkinson's disease diagnoses, according to a 51-page audit filed by special masters and made public Monday.

The audit states the firms worked with a handful of doctors to provide outside diagnoses before players were evaluated by physicians approved by fund administrators. Players arrived at those appointments already prescribed medications including Levodopa, which the filing says can mask symptoms and lead approved doctors to defer to the paperwork.

Allegations and response The special masters wrote that the process involved players being prescribed symptom-stemming medications before fund-approved evaluations. The filing does not state that any player diagnosed with Parkinson's does not have the disease and addresses only the process used to press claims.

The five firms named in the audit are Douglas Grossinger, Feder Law LLC, Pro Athlete Law Firm PA, Syme Law PLLC and Reppert Oates & Vytell LLC. The firms declined or did not respond to requests for comment. An NFL spokesperson said the league was pleased with the decision, which calls for denial of pending claims from players represented by the named lawyers or evaluated by the eight doctors listed.

The spokesperson added that the remedies are provided for by the settlement agreement and are intended to deter future misconduct.

Background on the fund The concussion settlement fund stems from a lawsuit filed by former players alleging the league did not act on scientific understanding of concussion risks. The NFL has paid out more than $1.5 billion from the uncapped fund. The special masters noted they have authority to refer findings to federal authorities, though the decision is not a criminal complaint.