Haruki Nakamura, former defensive back for the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers, sued London-based insurer Llyod's Monday for a total of $3 million in damages and denied benefits after sustaining a career-ending concussion, The New York Times reported.
Mr. Nakamura said he experienced a "virtually impossible" investigation regarding his claims for a concussion he received during an August 2013 preseason game. Michael Collins, PhD, director of UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, said Mr. Nakamura is permanently disabled and will not return to professional football.
The NFL also declared Mr. Nakamura unfit to play, but Lloyd's still denied the claims, citing a lack of evidence the 2013 concussion independently led to the disability. In addition, a physician hired by the insurer to evaluate Mr. Nakamura said his concussion was minor, a diagnosis Mr. Nakamura claims influenced the insurer's denial. Mr. Nakamura also said the physician barred him from bringing an advocate to his examination, according to the report.
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