Page 4 - November 2020 Newsletter - Lawyers Edition
P. 4

Appealable Issues

                                                                                                                                    Based on a good faith belief that the determination of the Claims Administrator was
                                                                                                                                    incorrect, the Retired NFL Football Player (or a Representative Claimant) may appeal
                                                                                                                                    determinations as to:


                                                                                                                                       1   whether the Retired           2  how the Claims                 3  whether the Claim
                                                                                                                                           NFL Football Player              Administrator calculated          Package is valid without
                                                                                                                                           (or a Representative             the Monetary Award;               medical records under
                                                                                                                                           Claimant) is entitled to a       and                               Section 8.2(ii) of the
                                                                                                                                           Monetary Award;                                                    Settlement Agreement.

                                                                                                                                      No other Appeals may be noted on Monetary Awards. The Special Master has discretion to
        Claim Determination Appeals                                                                                                   direct appropriate relief as to the conduct of any Party to the Appeal or to multiple Appeals
                                                                                                                                      concerning Monetary Awards that the Special Master determines to be vexatious, frivolous or in

        The Rules Governing Appeals of Claim Determinations cover appeals made by a                                                   bad faith (Rule 7). See Rule 8 for what may be appealed on Derivative Claimant Awards.
        Settlement Class Member, Class Counsel or the NFL Parties under Section 9.5 of                                                                       What Happens After an Appeal is Filed

        the Settlement Agreement from Claims Administrator determinations on Monetary
        Awards and Derivative Claimant Awards. These Rules are available here. Section

        9.7 of the Settlement Agreement also provides specific guidance on submissions
        on Appeals. We highlight important information about Appeals here.
                                                                                                                                  Filed Appeal Alert.         Response of                Statement of Class           Reply to Statement
                                                                                                                                  Upon receipt of a           Appellee. Each             Counsel. In an               of Class Counsel.
                                                                                                                                  timely appeal, we will      Appellee (Party            Appeal where Class           The other Parties
           Deadline to Appeal: Any Party wishing to appeal an Appealable Notice (the Appellant)
           must note an Appeal within 30 days after the date of the Appealable Notice (Rule 10).                                  provide a Filed Appeal  responding to the              Counsel is not the           to the Appeal may
                                                                                                                                  Alert to the other          Appeal) may submit         Appellant, within 15         submit a Reply to the
                                                                                                                                  Parties to the Appeal       a Response up to           days after the later of      Statement of Class
                                              How to Note an Appeal                                                               through a Portal or         10 pages, double-          the date of the Filed        Counsel of up to

                                                                                                                                  by mail to a Party          spaced, setting            Appeal Alert or the          four pages, double-
         1    Submit Appeal Form. Submit an Appeal              3   Statement. You may submit with the Appeals                    to the Appeal who           out its position and       date of the Response         spaced, within 15 days
              Form to us for your client through the Portal         Form a statement of up to 10 pages (double-                   does not use a Portal.      arguments on the           of Appellee, Class           after the Statement’s
              or by mail or delivery. The Appeals Form is           spaced) setting forth your arguments on                       The Filed Appeal            Appeal, within 30          Counsel may submit           date (Rule 16). The
              available on each Portal and is included with         the issue(s) appealed and citations to any                    Alert will include          days after the date        a Statement up to            Reply must be limited
              each Appealable Notice (Rule 11(a)).                  evidence previously submitted to us that you                  the Appellant’s             of the Filed Appeal        10 pages, double-            to addressing the
                                                                    and your client contend supports the Appeal.                  Appeals Form (and           Alert (Rule 14). The       spaced, in support of        issues raised in the
         2    Identify Reason(s) for Appeal. Indicate
              in the Appeals Form why you and your                  Exhibits to this statement are permitted, but                 any statement and           Appellant may not          or in opposition to the      Statement of Class
                                                                    you may not refer to or offer any evidence
              client feel the Appealable Notice was                                                                               exhibits submitted          submit a reply             Appeal (Rule 15).            Counsel; Replies that
              wrong. This is the issue(s) on Appeal that            that was not before the Claims Administrator,                 with the Appeals            (SA § 9.7(b)).                                          include additional
              you want the Special Master to decide.                subject to Rule 23, which covers new                          Form) (Rule 13).                                                                    issues are
              The Special Master will only consider                 evidence (Rule 11(c)).                                          Note: While exhibits to the Response of Appellee, Statement of Class              not permitted
              properly appealable issues under Rules 7          4   Pay Appeal Fee. Any Settlement Class                            Counsel and Reply to Statement of Class Counsel are permitted, no                 (SA §§ 9.7(b)-(c)).
              and 8 (Rule 11(b)).                                   Member noting an Appeal must pay a $1,000                       submissions may refer to or include any evidence that was not before the
                                                                    Appeal Fee that will be refunded if the Appeal                  Claims Administrator, subject to Rule 23(c), which covers new evidence.
                                                                    is successful (Rule 12).                                                                                                                     CONTINUED ON PAGE 6  >>>

        4    INSIGHTS  Lawyers Edition                 November 2020                                                                                                             November 2020                   INSIGHTS Lawyers  Edition   5
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