NFL Retirees File Amended Suit to Preserve Their Rights to Fair Pensions

National Football League retirees filed an amended lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota to protect their pension rights as the league continued to negotiate with players on a lockout that threatens the upcoming season.

In a revised complaint asking for class-action, or group, status, the retirees seek an order to stop discussions between the NFL and its Players Association “aimed at injuring retired NFL players” and to award unspecified triple damages.

“They have a right to allocation of revenue” and officials “are ignoring the voice of the retirees,” Michael Hausfeld, a Washington-based lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a telephone interview today.

The NFL is the richest in U.S. pro sports. The players and owners are quarreling about how to split about $9 billion in revenue. Other issues include extending the season from 16 to 18 games and providing a salary cap for rookies. The NFL owners declared the lockout at midnight on March 11.

The second amended complaint, filed yesterday, includes as plaintiffs Carl Eller, Marcus Allen, Franco Harris and Obafemi Ayanbadejo.

The case is Brady v. NFL, 0:11-cv-00639, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota (St. Paul).

To contact the reporter on this story: Phil Milford in Wilmington, Delaware, at pmilford@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Hytha at mhytha@bloomberg.net